Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 1998 Dec;79(12):1560-4.
doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(98)90421-x.

Neuropathic pain in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

G T Carter  1 , M P Jensen, B S Galer, G H Kraft, L D Crabtree, R M Beardsley, R T Abresch, T D Bird
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Neuropathic pain in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

G T Carter et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency and extent to which subjects with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease report pain and to compare qualities of pain in CMT to other painful neuropathic conditions.

Study design: Descriptive, nonexperimental survey, using a previously validated measurement tool, the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS).

Participants: Participants were recruited from the membership roster of a worldwide CMT support organization.

Main outcome measures: NPS pain descriptors reported in CMT were compared with those reported by subjects with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), complex regional pain syndrome, type 1 (CRPS-1), also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, diabetic neuropathy (DN), and peripheral nerve injury (PNI).

Results: Of 617 CMT subjects (40% response rate), 440 (71%) reported pain. with the most severe pain sites noted as low back (70%), knees (53%), ankles (50%), toes (46%), and feet (44%). Of this group, 171 (39%) reported interruption of activities of daily living by pain; 168 (38%) used non-narcotic pain medication and 113 (23%) used narcotics and/or benzodiazepines for pain. The use of pain description was similar for CMT, PHN, CRPS-1, DN, and PNI in terms of intensity and the descriptors hot, dull, and deep.

Conclusions: Neuropathic pain is a significant problem for many people with CMT. The frequency and intensity of pain reported in CMT is comparable in many ways to PHN, CRPS-1, DN. and PNI. Further studies are needed to examine possible pain generators and pharmacologic and rehabilitative modalities to treat pain in CMT.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types