"Challenges and facilitators-navigating in the landscape of spinal cord injury neuropathic pain"-a qualitative study on the use of prescribed drugs.

Study Design: A qualitative study with an emergent design using semi-structured interviews in focus groups.

Objectives: To explore the expectations, experiences and desires among individuals who are prescribed drugs for spinal cord injury (SCI) neuropathic pain (NP).

Setting: SCI rehabilitation centre.

'The moment I leave my home - there will be massive challenges': experiences of living with a spinal cord injury in Botswana.

Background: When suffering a spinal cord injury (SCI), the patient and family face numerous challenges regardless of socio-economic level. The stigmatisation of persons with disabilities has been reported, however, reports from Southern Africa are largely lacking.

Purpose: To explore the experiences of living with a traumatic SCI in Botswana concerning perceived attitudes, obstacles and challenges.

Needs and requests--patients and physicians voices about improving the management of spinal cord injury neuropathic pain.

Purpose: The present purpose was to explore patients' and involved physicians' needs and requests for improving their management of neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Sixteen patients with SCI and neuropathic pain, and nine physicians, were interviewed in focus-groups or individual interviews. An emergent design was used and the interviews and analyses were carried out in parallel, making it possible to use and deepen new emerging knowledge.

Phenotypes and predictors of pain following traumatic spinal cord injury: a prospective study.

Unlabelled: Pain is a serious consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Our aim was to investigate the temporal aspects of different types of pain following traumatic SCI and to determine possible predictors of neuropathic pain. Prospective data on 90 patients were collected at 1, 6, and 12 months after traumatic SCI.

Effects of seated double-poling ergometer training on aerobic and mechanical power in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine whether regular interval training on a seated double-poling ergometer can increase physical capacity and safely improve performance towards maximal level in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Methods: A total of 13 subjects with spinal cord injury (injury levels T5-L1) performed 30 sessions of seated double-poling ergometer training over a period of 10 weeks. Sub-maximal and maximal double-poling ergometer tests were performed before (test-retest) and after this training period.

Burnout in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders.

This study sought to assess burnout and its relation to pain, disability, mood and health-related quality of life in a group of patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Forty-five patients with chronic WAD (≥3 months) referred to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation centre were included. A questionnaire covering data on background and lifestyle, the Shirom Melamed Burnout Questionnaire, pain intensity, the Neck Disability Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the EQ-5D was filled in before the first visit to the clinic.

"But I know what works"--patients' experience of spinal cord injury neuropathic pain management.

Purpose: To explore and obtain increased knowledge about (i) strategies and treatments used by individuals with neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI) for handling long-term pain, and (ii) their experience, needs and expectations of SCI neuropathic pain management.

Methods: Qualitative methods with an emergent research design were used. Eighteen informants who suffered from long-term SCI neuropathic pain participated.

Patients' perspectives on pain.

Nociceptive and neuropathic pain (NP) are common consequences following spinal cord injury (SCI), with large impact on sleep, mood, work, and quality of life. NP affects 40% to 50% of individuals with SCI and is sometimes considered the major problem following SCI. Current treatment recommendations for SCI-NP primarily focus on pharmacological strategies suggesting the use of anticonvulsant and antidepressant drugs, followed by tramadol and opioid medications.

Acupuncture and massage therapy for neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury: an exploratory study.

Objective: The study sought to explore the possibility of using acupuncture and massage therapy for relieving neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: 30 individuals with SCI and neuropathic pain were assigned to treatment of either massage or acupuncture, with 15 individuals in each group. Both groups received treatment twice weekly for 6 weeks.

Screening tools for neuropathic pain: can they be of use in individuals with spinal cord injury?

Pain of both neuropathic and nociceptive aetiology is common after spinal cord injury (SCI), and classifying pain is sometimes a challenge. The objective of this study was to test the usefulness of the Swedish version of the screening tools Douleur Neuropathique 4 questions (DN4), the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS), the Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), and the painDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q) in individuals with SCI and pain. A further objective was to define pain descriptors able to discriminate neuropathic pain from nonneuropathic pain.

Spasticity and bone density after a spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess the relationship between spasticity and bone mineral density in the lower extremities in individuals with a motor complete spinal cord injury.

Methods: Eighteen individuals, matched for time since injury, gender, and age, were included in the study.

Pain relief in women with fibromyalgia: a cross-over study of superficial warmth stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Objective: To compare the effects of portable superficial warmth with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain in patients with fibromyalgia.

Methods: The study had a randomized cross-over design. A total of 32 patients with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to 2 groups.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for treatment of spinal cord injury neuropathic pain.

The aim of the study was to assess the short-term effects of high- and low-frequency (HF and LF, respectively) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI). A total of 24 patients participated in the study. According to the protocol, half of the patients were assigned to HF (80 Hz) and half to LF (burst of 2 Hz) TENS.

Tramadol in neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of tramadol for relieving neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Thirty-six patients with SCI and neuropathic pain were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, and 35 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis based on all patients taking at least 1 dose of study medication. Of the intention-to-treat population, 23 were randomized to treatment with tramadol and 12 to placebo.

Shoulder pain in persons with thoracic spinal cord injury: prevalence and characteristics.

Objective: To document the prevalence of shoulder pain, associated patient characteristics, and intensity and interference with shoulder function in activities in wheelchair users.

Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Patients: Individuals with a thoracic spinal cord injury.