Chronic pain after SCI. A patient survey

Study design: A survey of chronic pain experience after spinal cord injury. Objective: To investigate the prevalence, severity and impact of chronic pain amongst spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in our region, and assess the need for additional resources to address the problem. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to 216 spinal cord injury patients (10% of the Yorkshire regional spinal injury database). Setting: Yorkshire region, UK. Results: A response was received from 67% of the patients. Seventy-nine per cent of patients said they presently suffered with pain, with 39% describing it as severe. Comparison of pain and non-pain groups using chi-squared analysis showed that complete injury was significantly more likely than incomplete injury to result in chronic pain (P<0.05), and increased severity of pain (P<0.05). 43% of patients with pain said they required further treatment for it. Chronic pain had a significant impact on daily activities and was a major factor in causing unemployment (18%) and depression (39%). Conclusion: The study confirms that pain is a major problem in SCI patients which is not currently being adequately addressed. A multidisciplinary approach to management and prospective studies of treatments are required in order to reduce the prevalence and severity of pain in these patients.