Somatosensory Temporal Discrimination And Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio In Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

Objective: Central sensitization is known in the pathogenesis of chronic low back pain. We aimed at this study considering that somatosensory temporal discrimination (STD) may also be impaired in this process. We also looked at the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in terms of its contribution to inflammation suggested in the pathogenesis. Materials and Methods: A total of 52 participants have been enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups, 27 patients with chronic low back pain (pain caused by facet, sacroiliac joint arthropathy and intervertebral disc degeneration) and 25 healthy volunteers. STDT (somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold) stimulus intensity and STD measurements were obtained in the dorsum of the hands and foot in four extremities of both groups, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was evaluated. Results: STD thresholds in patients with chronic low back pain were found significantly prolonged in all four extremities compared to the control group. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was also found to be statistically significantly higher in the low back pain group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Prolonged STD thresholds indicate that pain perception of patients with chronic low back pain is disrupted. In addition, the high rate of neutrophils-lymphocytes indicates that the inflammatory process continues even if low back pain becomes chronic.