Managing pain
Unfortunately pain is common after SCI.
Studies have shown that 60-80% of people will experience pain at some point.
- Pain may be what is called ‘acute’ which means it stops as the injury heals
- But sometimes pain persists, even paradoxically below the level of paralysis, in the areas where there is little or no sensation or movement.
This can be frustrating and confusing.
Unmanaged pain can significantly interfere with the ability to get on with rehabilitation.
- Being in pain can have a big impact on how someone feels and how they react to the world around them, including those close to them.
- And for family and friends to see someone they love in pain can also be very stressful and upsetting.
However, there are things that can be done to keep pain at a minimum,
and to make sure it does not dominate your lives.
Different Types of Pain
Understanding the nature of the pain is very important:
There are different types of pain that can occur after SCI, and effective pain relief depends on a clear understanding of the nature of the pain.
Treating the Pain
The Centre’s treating team will be addressing the pain as part of goal planning:
The SCI patient, consultant, nurses and other therapists will work together to address the pain, in various ways:
During rehabilitation patients will be invited to attend an education session on pain,
and should be offered a leaflet about Managing Pain after SCI.
It may be useful for family and friends to read this as well.
How can family and friends help?
- Being informed is important, but also being willing to learn with your relative about what works for them.
- Research shows that in the long term, people who are able to keep active despite the pain, even if they have to do things in an adjusted way, report the best quality of life.
“There were days when I knew he was in a lot of pain and I couldn’t do anything to help take it away.
It upset me so much that I couldn’t help.
He has learnt over time to work through it and with the help of medication things are more manageable.”
