Evaluation of Different Types of Pain in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Pain is an unpleasant sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. In patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), pain may occur as a result of damage to the spinal cord, or it may occur due to damage to other areas of the body at the time of injury. It is also common for many individuals with SCI to experience different types of chronic pain. Sometimes the pain is very severe and may have a great impact on daily living. This study evaluates the prevalence and different types of pain in Iranian SCI patients. Methods: Eighty four SCI patients were included in the present study based on an inclusion criteria. An expert physiatrist evaluated the patients and filled demographic questionnaires. After, the patients filled the short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ-2). Results: The mean age of patients was 34.9 (SD: 10.9) years and the mean duration of spinal cord injury as well as duration of having pain were 2.57 (SD: 2.32) and 1.81 (SD: 1.96) years, respectively. The most prevalent type of pain was tingling (84.5%), hot-burning and shooting pain (65.7%), as well as cramping pain (63.1%). The mean of pain in the visual analogue scale (VAS) is 5.69 (SD: 2.21). Conclusions: Pain is one of the most debilitating complications among SCI patients. Heeding to the patients’ pain, it’s appropriate and precise diagnosis, and timely treatment can improve the quality of life as well as their more efficient return to social activities among these patients.