Neuromuscular hyperexcitability features in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain: a neuroepidemiologic survey.

We studied the reported frequencies of clinical complaints of neuromuscular hyperexcitability (muscle cramps and fasciculations) in random samples of 527 Dutch adults, who were and 253 Dutch adults, who were not suffering from musculoskeletal pain and tenderness. Data were collected by telephone-interview and by self-administered questionnaire. Muscle cramps and fasciculations were recorded more frequently in the category that suffered from musculoskeletal pain (p less than 0.001). This association warrants further investigation into the possible intrinsic role of neuromuscular hyperexcitability in musculoskeletal pain and primary fibromyalgia.