Hypersensitivity to pain produced by early life stress is worsened by later stress exposure

"Childhood neglect and abuse, whether physical or psychological, confers a lifetime vulnerability to stress, anxiety, and mood problems. Such early-life stress is also suspected to contribute to the development of chronic pain in adulthood.

"In fact, there is growing concern that chronic pain syndromes may be a complication of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, this link is particularly challenging to study because many stressful events that produce PTSD also produce physical trauma. In addition, much of the research conducted in animals has not accurately reflected the early-life stress experienced by humans...."

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-11-hypersensitivity-pain-early-life-stress.html

Alvarez, et al. (Nov. 2013). "Stress in the Adult Rat Exacerbates Muscle Pain Induced by Early-Life Stress" Biological Psychiatry, 74(9). Abstract. 

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