Quantitative sensory testing for evaluation chronic arthritis or local anesthesia

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityBackground: Properly functioning sensory systems are crucial in perception of external stimuli. Different modalities such as touch, temperature, and pain can only be appreciated with intact sensory pathways from the peripheral receptors to the cerebral cortex via the spinal cord. Pain is a sensory response to noxious, tissue damaging stimuli. It is an essential protective response for survival. However, abnormalities in sensory function may lead to hyposensitization or hypersensitization to a stimulus, which may cause numbness or pain respectively. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a condition characterized by inflammation of the joints, resulting in stiffness and pain. The etiology of JIA is not well known, and little is understood about the associated changes in sensory function that may be present. In this study, we use quantitative sensory testing (QST) as a validated measure to assess local and global changes in sensory function in JIA patients. [TRUNCATED