Dolor en individuos con lesión de la médula espinal: un estudio descriptivo

Abstract

Objective

This study has aimed to determine the characteristic factors of pain in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Materials and methods

A total of 28 subjects with spinal cord injury, aged between 18 and 65 years, were enrolled in the study. They were interviewed and answered questions related to their pain experience from the time of injury. The interview covered aspects such as pain location, intensity, frequency, improvement and worsening factors, and impact of pain on activities of daily living.

Results

The results showed high prevalence (75%) of pain in the population. Chronic pain of moderate intensity characterized by patients as «burning», located in the thoracic-lumbar region, was the most prevalent. The majority (28.6%) of the patients indicated the sitting posture as the main factor of triggering and worsening the pain.

Conclusions

Pain is an experience faced by the majority of individuals with spinal cord injury. The sitting position for long periods, characteristic of wheelchair users, plays an important role in the development and worsening of pain in the opinion of patients. Its high frequency and intensity are enough to impair activities of daily living, this pointing to the need for studies that provide foundations for more effective treatment strategies.