Objectives: This study aims to identify the factors associated with pain and neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to determine the relationship between pain and NP with disability, functionality, activities of daily living, fatigue, mood, and quality of life (QoL). Patients and methods: Between July 2017 and October 2017, a total of 100 adult patients with MS (18 males, 82 females; mean age: 35.3±9.9 years; range, 19 to 71 years) were included. All patients were evaluated in terms of pain and NP. Patients with and without pain, and patients with and without NP were compared in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, disease data, disability, functionality, daily living activities, fatigue severity, mood, and QoL using various scales. Results: A total of 62% of the patients had pain. Pain was found to be associated with low education level (p=0.014), increased fatigue (p<0.001), depressive mood (p<0.001) and lower QoL (p<0.001). A total of 29.03% of patients with pain had NP. Patients with NP had a greater pain intensity (p<0.001) and fatigue (p=0.002) and lower QoL (p=0.011). The number of patients who received the correct treatment for their symptoms was low. Conclusion: Pain and NP should be better investigated and treated by physicians, as these symptoms are common in MS and adversely affect the QoL and social relations of affected patients and reduce their productivity.

Background: To evaluate kinesiophobia and its relationship with disease-related characteristics and quality of life in lipedema patients. Methods: In this descriptive case-control study, 40 lipedema patients and 40 participants in the control group were included. All participants were evaluated in terms of body mass index (BMI), pain numeric rating scale (NRS) and pain threshold (PT) scores, kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia - TSK), lower extremity functional scores (Lower Extremity Functional Scale - LEFS), and health-related quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile - NHP) scores. Additionally, the lipedema patients were evaluated in terms of extremity volumes, and total and mean lower extremity fat mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: High kinesiophobia was detected in 78% of the lipedema patients and 55% of the control group ( p = .033). TSK ( p = .048), NRS ( p = .001), and NHP total scores ( p = .041) were higher and PT scores ( p = .007) were lower in lipedema patients compared to the control group. No difference was found between lipedema patients with high and low kinesiophobia in terms of fat mass or extremity volumes. A positive correlation was found between TSK score, NHP total score (r = 0.356, p = .024), NHP physical activity (ρ = 0.403, p = .010) and NHP energy (ρ = 0.436, p = .005) subscale scores . Conclusion: Kinesiophobia is highly prevalent in lipedema patients, regardless of disease-related data and affecting the quality of life of the patients, negatively.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in reducing pain, improving quality of life, and decreasing disease severity in patients with fibromyalgia. This prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial included female patients newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia who had started duloxetine treatment (30 mg/day). The patients in the study group received six sessions of posterior tibial nerve stimulation, twice weekly, 3–4 days apart, in addition to duloxetine; the controls received duloxetine only. The patients were evaluated three times (at baseline, 1st month, and 3rd month). Pain was evaluated using a numeric rating scale, the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, and quality of life with a 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). Patient functional status and disease severity were evaluated using the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ). A total of 64 patients met the inclusion criteria: 22 were ultimately included in the study group and 30 in the control group. Statistical improvements in pain and FIQ scores were observed after treatment in both groups. The SF-36 scores indicated improved vitality only in the 1st month in both groups, with no significant changes in the other quality-of-life subscales in either group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of changes in pain, FIQ, and SF-36 scores compared with baseline at the 1st month and 3rd month. The addition of PTNS to pharmacological treatment did not contribute to the reduction in pain or improvement in quality of life in fibromyalgia either in the 1st or 3rd month. NIH Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT05937711.

Background/Aims: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is characterized by low back pain and sacroiliitis. It is important to exclude other causes of sacroiliitis before diagnosing axSpA. We hypothesized that the presence of lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) might lead to diagnostic confusion in axSpA. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of LSTV in axSpA patients and whether LSTV caused any differences in disease characteristics compared to patients without LSTV. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of axSpA patients (>18 years) with available pelvic and lumbosacral radiographs. Patients were divided into groups based on presence of LSTV and compared for age, sex, r-axSpA prevalence, biologic DMARD usage, CRP/ESR levels, and clinical scores (ASDAS-CRP, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI). Results: 130 patients (82 males, 48 females); 95 using biologic DMARDs; 41 had clinical scores. LSTV prevalence was 25.4% (n = 33); most common Castellvi type 1b (39.4%). No significant differences in demographics, DMARD use, inflammatory markers, or clinical scores between groups. Conclusion: No diagnostic concerns were identified in axSpA patients with LSTV, but due to high prevalence, thorough evaluation is recommended prior to axSpA diagnosis, beyond ASAS criteria alone.

Objective: To evaluate the presence of joint hypermobility (JH) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and the relationship between JH and disease activity, hand functions, and quality of life. Methods: Thirty-four seropositive RA patients and 34 controls were included. Demographic data, body mass index, and state of JH (Beighton scores) of all participants were recorded. Two groups were compared in terms of JH. In RA patients, the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) was used to evaluate disease activity, the Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) for hand functions, and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) for quality of life. A correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship of these data with JH in RA patients. Results: In the RA group, there were no patients with JH. No significant difference was found in the Beighton scores compared to the control group (p=0.383). The Beighton score showed a statistically significant negative correlation with DAS-28, DHI, NHP total, NHP pain, NHP physical activity, and NHP energy level. (p=0.026, p=0.015, p=0.003, p