Has anyone been diagnosed with Central Sensitization?

@jgl15 I highly recommend 2 books written by Dr. Sood, a Mayo doctor with a mind/body practice. They are used in stress reduction classes and they are about mindfulness and reducing stress and anxiety. The Handbook for Happiness is like a workbook and the Guide to Stress free Living is more in-depth. I bought them both after looking at them in the Mayo gift shop and they are excellent. https://marketplace.mayoclinic.com/shop/healthy-lifestyle/book/mayo-clinic-stress-management-combo_752700

Okay, thank you! I will definitely check those out

This is great info! I’ve been recently diagnosed with CS after 4 years of progressive inflammation which has now started to greatly impact my muscle tone, strength and stamina. I’ve been to dozens of doctors and finally Mayo. I’ve found that gym workouts (which was my form of therapy) leave me in a lot of pain late in the day in every joint. I wake up feeling great with no pain at all but by mid day, it’s a spiral downhill into massive inflammation. Has anyone else had this kind of experience? I’ve not found any medications that help.

Hi @dwilkin, welcome to Connect. @kelseylmontague, @legalese1972, and @menville are other members here who might be able to share some suggestions with you.

I did find a couple of interesting articles but not sure if they are helpful:

Rehabilitation of a Young Athlete With Extension-Based Low Back Pain Addressing Motor-Control Impairments and Central Sensitization
-- http://www.natajournals.org/doi/abs/10.4085/1062-6050-238-16

Pain amplification—A perspective on the how, why, when, and where of central sensitization
-- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jabr.12124

@dwilkin, does the level of intensity of your workouts that you are using for your form of therapy make any difference in your pain level later in the day - if the workout is not as hard is your pain level better or worse later in the day?

John

If I work out even at a moderate pace (weights/Pilates/cardio) for 45 minutes (half at my rate 2-3 years ago) by 6 hours later, it can be very severe. Oddly, I could go on a bike ride for 20 miles and it would be better. I’ve found that the most I can now do without big payback by 7pm is a combo of just walking, moving, standing, being busy. But I’ve lost 10 pounds and lots of muscle mass and stamina. Lying down is the only thing that makes it go away after 45 minutes or so. I wake up with no pain! I note the progression though. More joints and more pain over the past 4 years - started in my knees. Now it’s pretty much every joint.

That was a very interesting abstract you sent. Thank you - I’ll share it with my doctor.

Also I'd love feedback from anyone on this post about PTSD and it's relationship to CS. Over a period of 18 months prior to the onset of symptoms, I had life-changing events that were not of the good kind. I nearly died from twisted intestines and it was MAJOR emergency surgery. Subsequently, I had 4 other extremely traumatic events that elevated my stress level no doubt for an additional 18 months, on top of a high level exec job in NYC. I've read some links between elevated cortosol levels over a long period and that can lead to "re-wiring" of your neurology so that this stress state becomes the learned response constantly. Then my symptoms started. Anyone have info on this condition being tied to trauma? Thanks all.

Hi @dwilkin, I did find an article doing a quick search that may be helpful until other members join the conversation.

Evidence for acute central sensitization to prolonged experimental pain in posttraumatic stress disorder.
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24738563

Hello @dwilkin

When I read your post and hearing how you had emergency, major surgery, I thought that you might find our PICS discussion group of interest. This group discussed post-intensive-care-syndrome. All of these folks have discussed the emotional ramifications of emergency/major surgery. For many, it left some very difficult memories. I would encourage you to read this discussion and see how this syndrome might apply to what you are experiencing now. Here is the link,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-intensive-care-syndrome-pics-lets-talk/
I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you post and let me know how you are doing?

I have only the highest praise for Mayo's Pain Rehab Program. I went through the program the first time 18 year's ago in Rochester. After continuing my exercise program and doing all I was told to do after finishing the program, I was completely pain-free within 3 months! At that time, I had been diagnosed with whole body complex regional pain syndrome. Before I went to Mayo Rochester I weighed 60 lobs and was being cared for by Hospice nurses. Mayo saved my life! The second time I was in PRC was in Mayo Jax program - again with complex regional pain syndrome - as the result of a serious accident. I cannot say enough good things about this program and its staff! I would recommend it to anyone with any sort of pain program that is impacting their life and their function. The program is robust and if you do exactly as asked you will come out having made enormous strides! I want to direct something to those writing about Central Sensitization. I think some of what has been said here is not accurate or is misinformed. I would like to see an expert in the field address this issue here online. I suggest the director of PRC, Mayo JAX. He would be an ideal person for talking about it.