The pain experience
In addition to the types of pain a person might experience after spinal cord injury, it is important to understand and explore the various factors that can modulate or affect the pain experience.
Effective pain management is a key part of rehabilitation and should be addressed within a biopsychosocial framework (see Figure 1 below). This approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the person’s pain, taking into account the biological, psychological and environmental factors that can all contribute their experience.
Due to the complexity and individual nature of pain following spinal cord injury, a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended to achieve the best possible rehabilitation outcomes.
Biopsychosocial framework of pain
Source: Middelton et al (2008)
Below are some additional resources that may help in understanding pain after spinal cord injury:
Queensland Health – Persistent pain management services
NSW Pain Management Network – Resources for Chronic Pain
Lorimer Moseley – Why Things Hurt
Curable: A Different Approach to Chronic Pain
Bryce, T. N., Biering-Sørensen, F., Finnerup, N. B., Cardenas, D. D., Defrin, R., Lundeberg, T., Norrbrink, C., Richards, J. S., Siddall, P., Stripling, T., Treede, R. D., Waxman, S. G., Widerström-Noga, E., Yezierski, R. P., & Dijkers, M. (2012). International spinal cord injury pain classification: part I. Background and description. March 6-7, 2009. Spinal cord, 50(6), 413–417.
Mehta, S., Teasell, RW., Loh, E., Short, C., Wolfe, DL., Benton, B., Blackport, D., Hsieh, JTC. (2019). Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury. In Eng, JJ., Teasell, RW., Miller, WC., Wolfe, DL., Townson, AF., Hsieh, JTC., Connolly, SJ., Noonan, VK., Loh, E., McIntyre, A (Eds.), Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Evidence. SCIRE Project.
Middleton, J., Siddall, P., & Nicholson Perry, K. (2002). Managing pain for adults with spinal cord injury. Agency for Clinical Innovation. https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/155173/sci_managing_pain.pdf
Siddall, P., Yezierski, RP., Joeser, JD. (2002). Taxonomy and epidemiology of spinal cord injury pain. In Yezierski, RP., Burchiel, KJ (Eds.), Spinal Cord Injury Pain: Assessment, Mechanisms, Management (pp. 9-24). IASP Press.