Research Article
Exploring the Experience of Living with Pain after Spinal Cord Injury: A Qualitative Study
Table 1
Sociodemographic and pain information.
| | Pseudonym | Gender | Age | Years living with SCI | Cause of injury | Employment type | NLI | Completeness of injury | Number of painful areas | Most painful location | Pain severity | Pain behaviour | Type of medication(s) |
| | Aaron | Male | 43 | 2 | MVA (driver) | Unemployed (government disability grant) | T9 | Complete | 2 | Lower back (below NLI) | 8 | Burning | NSAIDs | | Abigail | Female | 42 | 13 | MVA (passenger) | Sales consultant | T6 | Complete | 2 | Back (injury site) | 6 | Sharp | Opioids | | Angela | Female | 58 | 9 | MVA (passenger) | Registered nurse (office work and counseling) | T10 | Complete | 2 | Dominant shoulder | 6 | Sharp | Not on any pain medication | | Abel | Male | 39 | 6 | MVA (driver) | Unemployed (government disability grant) | T6 | Complete | 2 | Lower limbs (below NLI) | 5 | Pins & needles | Paracetamol & anticonvulsants | | Abram | Male | 37 | 6 | MVA (passenger) | Unemployed (government disability grant) | T11 | Complete | 1 | Lower limbs (below NLI) | 10 | Burning | Opioids, anticonvulsants, & tricyclic antidepressants | | Adam | Male | 60 | 4 | Object fell from height | Unemployed (government disability grant and WCA) | T12 | Complete | 1 | Back (injury site) | 5 | Cramping | Not on any pain medication | | Adrian | Male | 62 | 39 | MVA (driver) | Administrator | T6 | Incomplete | 2 | Buttocks | 5 | Pins & Needles | Not on any pain medication | | Amanda | Female | 42 | 12 | MVA (driver) | Assistant director | T12 | Incomplete | 1 | Lower limbs (below NLI) | 8 | Burning | Opioids, anticonvulsants, & tricyclic antidepressants | | Albert | Male | 50 | 4 | MVA (driver) | IT specialist | T12 | Incomplete | 4 | Lower back (below NLI) | 6 | Deep pressure | Opioids, anticonvulsants, & SNRI antidepressants | | Alice | Female | 32 | 17 | PVA | Maintenance controller | T12 | Complete | 2 | Upper back (above NLI) | 8 | Sharp | Opioids & tricyclic antidepressants | | Alex | Male | 45 | 8 | MVA (passenger) | Unemployed (work disability grant) | T5 | Complete | 1 | Lower limbs (below NLI) | 10 | Burning | Not on any pain medication | | Andrew | Male | 34 | 4 | MBA | Unemployed (government disability grant) | T7 | Complete | 4 | Lower limbs (below NLI) | 7 | Pins & needles | Not on any pain medication | | Andries | Male | 60 | 13 | MVA (driver) | Pensioner (work pension) | T6 | Complete | 3 | Back (injury site) | 6 | Sharp | Not on any pain medication | | Anthony | Male | 30 | 4 | Gunshot | Entrepreneur | L1 | Complete | 1 | Lower limbs (below NLI) | 6 | Electric shocks | Opioids | | Archie | Male | 23 | 5 | Gunshot | Sales assistant & data capturer | L3 | Incomplete | 1 | Lower limbs (below NLI) | 4 | Electric shocks | Paracetamol & NSAIDs |
|
|
MBA = motorbike accident; MVA = motor vehicle accident; NLI = neurological level of injury; PVA = pedestrian-vehicle accident; NSAIDs = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories; SNRI = serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; WCA = workers compensation assistance.
|
