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Pain Location and Functioning in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury
Author(s) -
Miró Jordi,
Gertz Kevin J.,
Carter Gregory T.,
Jensen Mark P.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2014.01.010
Subject(s) - medicine , spinal cord injury , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , spinal cord , psychiatry
Background The influence of pain location and extent on functioning in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and chronic pain is not well understood. Objective To investigate the correlations between pain location and extent to determine which pain domains may be important to assess and potentially target in treating chronic pain in SCI populations. Design Prospective, observational study. Setting University medical center. Participants A total of 259 persons with an SCI and chronic pain. Methods Postal mail survey questionnaire. Main Outcome Measurements Pain sites, pain extent (number of sites), pain intensity in specific body locations, pain interference, and physical and psychological functioning. Results A positive association between pain extent and intensity with pain interference ( r = 0.33, P < .01) and a negative association with psychological functioning were noted in the study sample ( r = −0.21, P < .01). Pain intensity in the lower back and legs ( r = 0.55, P < .01) and a number of other sites showed strong associations with patient functioning. Correlation with psychological functioning was significant but weaker ( r = −0.22, P < .01 for the lower back and legs). Ambulatory status had only a small moderating effect on the associations between pain intensity in specific sites and pain interference and no effect on psychological functioning. Conclusions The findings support the importance of assessing pain intensity at specific locations as a part of a thorough evaluation of chronic pain, as well as the importance of addressing pain at multiple sites, when managing pain in persons with an SCI.