Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
The purpose of the study is to discover the underlying subtypes of chronic musculoskeletal pain (muscle and joint pain) in youth. Specifically, the researchers are looking for different profiles of brain and immune system signals that affect how the body feels pain, and how these pain profiles are shaped by a person's medical history, psychology, and social environment. The goal is to develop more precise treatments for chronic pain in young people. Primary Aim: The investigators want to identify subtypes of childhood-onset chronic pain (pain lasting more than 3 months) that affects the musculoskeletal system. To do this, the study will enroll teens and young adults (ages 14-26 years) who were diagnosed with chronic pain in childhood (before the age of 18) or have a pediatric rheumatic disease or major surgery that places them at risk for developing chronic pain. The researchers will look at participants' childhood medical histories and treatments, their current pain and other symptoms, sensory tests of pain and immune system markers found in their blood. The investigators will use this information to find different clinical and neuroimmune profiles of chronic pain. They will also be able to identify the profiles of those who are at risk for chronic pain (because of a rheumatic disease or past surgery) but never develop long term pain. Secondary Aim: The study will look at how medical history, treatments, and different lifestyle factors (like sleep and physical activity), and psychosocial factors (mood, coping, social support) influence the pain experience in subgroups of chronic pain identified in the primary aim. By understanding specific behavioral and psychosocial risk and protective factors-the researchers hope to better understand why some young people develop long-lasting pain and others do not and also how better treatments can be developed for those who do have chronic pain.
One in five children experience chronic pain with a large number experiencing primary musculoskeletal (MSK) pain conditions such as juvenile fibromyalgia and back pain. The number of youth with chronic MSK pain is even higher when considering those who develop chronic pain associated medical conditions (e.g., juvenile arthritis, childhood-onset lupus) or major surgery in childhood (scoliosis or pectus repair) - often referred as secondary MSK pain conditions. Current treatments are primarily based on symptom-management and fail to consider the underlying causes or subtypes of pain. As a conseq…
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of rheumatic/autoimmune disease/pain condition or initial MSK surgery prior to age 18 * Current age 14 to 26 years * Participant (and parent/legal guardian of participants \< 18 yo) can read and write in English * At least 1 year from diagnosis of pain or rheumatic disease * For individuals with MSK surgical history, at least 1 year after initial surgical intervention * For individuals with rheumatic disease, their disease must be considered inactive Exclusion Criteria: * They have active disease (JIA or cSLE) * Other medical conditions (e.g., malignancy, acu…
This is an observational study. No intervention is present.