Pain management with interventional spine therapy in patients with spinal cord injury: a case series.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVE

Chronic pain is common in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Any new strategy that is effective in treating this problem would be welcomed by this patient population.

METHODS

A case series is presented of SCI with neuropathic pain. In these 3 cases, interventional spine therapy is used as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic tool in the management of pain.

RESULTS

In the cases presented, interventional spine therapy proved useful in identifying the patient's pain generator. In most cases, the intervention was effective in reducing pain for a long enough period to serve as an effective pain management strategy. Other associated problems, such as spasticity, were similarly reduced.

CONCLUSION

Interventional spine therapy should be considered as a tool in the armamentarium of any SCI physician managing their patient's chronic pain.