Management of peripheral pain generators in fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a widespread chronic pain disorder that is characterized in part by central sensitization and increased pain response to peripheral nociceptive and non-nociceptive stimuli. Part of the comprehensive pain management of patients with FM should include a thoughtful evaluation and search for peripheral pain generators that either are associated with FM or are coincidentally present. The identification and treatment of these pain generators lessens the total pain burden, facilitates rehabilitation and decreases the stimuli for ongoing central sensitization.