Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is commonly reported in the general population. MPS is not a local/peripheral painful syndrome but is considered to be a syndrome of central sensitivity. A study thus investigated the effect of pregabalin in patients with MPS.

40 patients were randomized into two groups, with 17 patients per group completing the study. Female patients in group I was given pregabalin and exercise therapy, while group II patients were given exercise therapy alone. All patients underwent evaluation for pain by visual analog scale (VAS); trigger-point pressure pain threshold-(PPT) by algometry; neuropathic pain using the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions (DN4) and quality of life with the Short Form-36 (SF36), which were performed at baseline and the end of the first and third months of treatment.

The observations were as follows-

• Group I patients showed a significant improvement in VAS, trigger-point-PPT, and physical component summary-SF-36, in the first and third months. 
• Group II patients also showed significant improvements in all these parameters except physical component summary-SF-36.
• Group I patients displayed showed superior improvements in VAS, trigger points-PPT, and physical component summary-SF36 than group II by the third month.

Thus, Pregabalin treatment is effective in controlling trigger points and is more effective than exercise treatment at improving the quality of life in patients with MPS.

Source: Somatosensory & Motor Research. 2021;38(4):327-332. DOI: 10.1080/08990220.2021.1977265