Factors influencing neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the neuropathic pain (NP) accompanying spinal cord injury (SCI),and to analyze the related factors to provide references for its prevention and treatment.Methods Seventy SCI patients with NP were selected using the DN4 scale.Their age,gender,occupation,education level,monthly income,injury position,marital status and other data were surveyed using a general questionnaire.Their NP situation was surveyed using a simplified McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ).Results The patients' average visual analogous scale (VAS) score was 4.37.Their average pain rating index (PRI) according to the SF-MPQ was 8.23,with the PRI-sensory and PRI-emotional components 5.23 and 3.00 respectively.The average degree of present pain intensity was 1.86,between mild pain and discomfort,and discomfort was the description most commonly used.The most common pain descriptor was prickling pain,followed by burning pain and bulge pain.85.7％ of the patients felt that their pain had an adverse effect on their affective state,and exhaustion occurred more often than any other descriptive words.Univariant analysis showed that the degree of injury,education level,marital status,monthly income,family support and medication history were all factors correlated with NP perceptions.Multi-variate logistic regression analysis showed that being unmarried and severity of injury were independent protective factors against NP.No family support,no medication and low income were independent risk factors for NP.Conclusion The type of neuropathic pain varies in patients with spinal cord injury.The intensity of the pain is mostly at a medium level.The emotional state of most patients was affected.Neuropathic pain involves many factors.Being unmarried and severely injured are independent protective factors,while lack of family support,no medication,and having low income were independent risk factors.