Treatments perceived to be helpful for neuropathic pain after traumatic spinal cord injury: A multicenter cross-sectional survey study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the perceived helpfulness of non-pharmacological interventions, including massage, for neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.
Results Summary
Massage was rated as helpful for neuropathic pain by 76% of participants who used it, making it one of the most effective non-pharmacological treatments reported in the study.
Population
Individuals at least one year post traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
non-tramadol opioids | decrease | neuropathic pain | individuals with spinal cord injury | 86% | rated helpful | #1 |
cannabinoids | decrease | neuropathic pain | individuals with spinal cord injury | 83% | rated helpful | #2 |
anti-epileptics | decrease | neuropathic pain | individuals with spinal cord injury | 79% | rated helpful | #3 |
massage | decrease | neuropathic pain | individuals with spinal cord injury | 76% | rated helpful | #4 |
body position adjustment | decrease | neuropathic pain | individuals with spinal cord injury | 74% | rated helpful | #5 |
relaxation therapy | decrease | neuropathic pain | individuals with spinal cord injury | 70% | rated helpful | #6 |
opioids and exercise | increase | neuropathic pain | individuals with spinal cord injury | - | reported greater treatment helpfulness | #7 |
DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perceived helpfulness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions and their combinations for neuropathic pain (NeuP) and subcategories of NeuP after spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Six Spinal Cord Injury Model System Centers. METHODS: Three hundred ninety one individuals at least one year post traumatic SCI were enrolled. A telephone survey was conducted to determine the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments used in the last 12 months for each participant's three worst pains, whether these treatments were "helpful", and if currently used, each treatments' effectiveness. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty participants (56%) reported 354 distinct NeuPs. Pharmacological treatments rated helpful for NeuP were non-tramadol opioids (opioids were helpful for 86% of opioid treated NeuPs), cannabinoids (83%), and anti-epileptics (79%). Non-pharmacological treatments rated helpful for NeuP were massage (76%), body position adjustment (74%), and relaxation therapy (70%). Those who used both opioids and exercise reported greater NeuP treatment helpfulness compared to participants using opioids without exercise (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Opioids, cannabinoids, and massage were reported more commonly as helpful than treatments recommended as first-line therapies by current clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for NeuP after SCI (antiepileptics and antidepressants). Individuals with SCI likely value the modulating effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments on the affective components of pain in addition to the sensory components of pain when appraising treatment helpfulness.