Use of analgesic drugs in individuals with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE This study set out to elucidate which factors are associated with or predictive for the use of analgesic drugs in patients with spinal cord injury and pain. DESIGN A cross-sectional descriptive study with a partly prospective cohort. PATIENTS One hundred and twenty-three patients with a spinal cord injury matched for gender, age, level of lesion and completeness of injury. METHODS Questionnaires consisting of ratings in the areas of pain intensities, pain unpleasantness, life satisfaction, anxiety and depression, and questions about consumption of analgesic drugs were posted to the 123 patients. RESULTS Of the 101 patients (82.1%) who returned the questionnaire, 90 (46 women and 44 men) still suffered from pain and were thus included in the study. Statistical analysis showed that although the number of pain medications used per person had increased in the last 3 years, the ratings of pain were unaffected. Logistic regression analyses also revealed that the use of pain-relieving medication was associated with higher ratings on the affective component of pain, lower ratings of leisure activities and the presence of stabbing/cutting pain. CONCLUSION The affective component of pain is the main predictor for the use of analgesics in patients with a spinal cord injury. Complementary strategies, including a multidisciplinary approach, for relieving the unpleasantness of pain need to be explored further.