Assessment of Central Pain in the Peripartum Period

Chronic pain is common. Up to 10% of the Population has been estimated to suffer from chronic pain and up to 5% of the female population has been estimated to suffer from widespread, chronic pain and tenderness, thus fulfilling American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). FMS is characterized by the presence of both allodynia and hyperalgesia. FMS is also characterized by disturbances of the autonomic nervous system such as orthostatic intolerance, postural tachycardia etc. The effect of these conditions during gestation and post partum periods is not well known. Parturition is a complex process which involves multiple endocrine and physiological changes within a short period of time. Severe pain is an important attribute of this natural process. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the impact of chronic central pain on the process of parturition. Our hypothesis is, that women demonstrating signs, symptoms and a history of central pain, before the onset of active labor, will differ from women not demonstrating such traits; these women may require earlier higher does of analgesia, and may demonstrate increased hemodynamic lability during labor and delivery.