Pain in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

We studied the prevalence and character of pain in Parkinson's disease (PD) and its association with motor fluctuations. Of 95 outpatients, 46% experienced pain they attributed to PD. Patients with pain were younger but no more disabled on objective motor scores than patients without pain. Musculoskeletal, dystonic, and joint pains were most frequent. Painful episodes, especially musculoskeletal cramps, usually occurred when parkinsonian disability was maximal.