There are many aspects of life that change for a person who suffers a pain in spinal cord injury. One of the aspects that changes is that the person isn’t going to be able to enjoy a relatively pain-free life. In fact, there are several different types of pain that can affect a person who has suffered a spinal cord injury.

On behalf of Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Spinal Cord Injuries on Tuesday, November 24, 2015.

There are many aspects of life that change for a person who suffers a spinal cord injury. One of the aspects that changes is that the person isn’t going to be able to enjoy a relatively pain-free life. In fact, there are several different types of pain that can affect a person who has suffered a spinal cord injury.

What types of pain are associated with a spinal cord injury?

Visceral, neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain are all possible after a spinal cord injury. Visceral pain is localized pain in the abdomen that is a dull pain. Neuropathic pain is nerve pain caused by communication interruptions in the portion of the spinal cord that was damaged. Musculoskeletal pain is pain that occurs in the bones, joints and muscles that gets worse with movement and better with rest.

How are these types of pain treated after a spinal cord injury?

Physical therapy, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, activity modification and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are often used to help manage these types of pain. Pain medications might also be used to treat pain after a spinal cord injury. In some cases, combinations of medications are used to adequately control the pain. Narcotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and topical anesthetics are some of the possible medications you might need.

If you suffered a spinal cord injury, you might decide to seek compensation for your injury so that you can better afford the care you need. While compensation won’t take away your injury, it can help you to expand the therapies and treatments you use to manage all the different aspects of your injury, including finding adequate pain management options.

Source: Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, “Pain after Spinal Cord Injury,” accessed Nov. 24, 2015