Pain is a major problem for individuals with traumatic brain injury

(Press-News.org) Waltham — January 3, 2024 — Chronic pain affects approximately 60% of people living with traumatic brain injury (TBI), even up to 30 years after injury, according to new research published in The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation (JHTR), the official journal of the Brain Injury Association of America. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. 

"This is the first study to examine the experience of chronic pain in a large TBI sample this far post-injury," explain Cynthia Harrison-Felix, PhD, FACRM, Co-Project Director of the TBI Model System at Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO, and colleagues. "Pain status did not differ significantly across follow-up years. While our data are not longitudinal, it suggests that chronic pain occurs at varying points after injury, and may interfere with initial recovery and long-term, necessitating proactive pain assessment and treatment." 

Leveraging a large research network uncovers a high incidence of chronic pain after TBI 

The researchers surveyed patients who were being followed in the TBI Model Systems, a research program that includes the 18 U.S. rehabilitation centers in the study. All 3804 respondents had been hospitalized with moderate to severe TBI. Most were white (77%) and male (75%), and average time since injury was five years (range, 1–30 years). 

The survey informed participants that chronic pain can be defined as "persistent or recurring pain that lasts longer than three months. It includes headaches or pain anywhere in the body, which occurs more than half of the days over a three-month period." When the study participants were asked specifics about their own pain, the key results were:  

46% reported current chronic pain, 14% reported past chronic pain (after TBI), and 40% reported no chronic pain 

32.5% of participants with current chronic pain reported constant pain 

Compared with participants who reported no chronic pain after TBI or only past chronic pain, those with current chronic pain had significantly worse results on all three outcome measures included in the survey: the Functional Independence Measure motor and cognitive subscores, the Disability Rating Scale, and the Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended 

Medications are the most frequently used treatments 

Medications, physical therapy, and home exercise programs were the pain treatments most commonly reported. Medications were used by 91% of participants with current chronic pain and had been used by 90% of those with past chronic pain. 

The least frequently reported treatment was comprehensive chronic pain rehabilitation. This finding "suggests there may be an access issue given the proven benefit," Dr. Harrison-Felix’s group notes. Pain treatments known to be effective in other patient populations, such as psychotherapy and biofeedback, were not often reported. 

"Chronic pain should be assessed and treated along with other neurocognitive and neurobehavioral disorders such as memory deficits and depression," the researchers conclude. "While we cannot assess the directionality of the relationship between pain and outcomes, the findings indicate that the presence of chronic pain after TBI is far from benign." 

Read Article [ Characterization and Treatment of Chronic Pain After Traumatic Brain Injury—Comparison of Characteristics Between Individuals With Current Pain, Past Pain, and No Pain: A NIDILRR and VA TBI Model Systems Collaborative Project ] 

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About The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation 

The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation (JHTR) is a leading, international, peer-reviewed resource that provides up-to-date information on the treatment of individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI), the systems of care in which services are provided, and epidemiologic and public health issues relevant to TBI. Six issues each year aspire to the vision of "knowledge informing care" and include a wide range of articles, topical issues, commentaries, and special features. JHTR is the official journal of the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA). 

About the Brain Injury Association of America 

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) strives to be a primary authority on medical diagnosis and treatment, disease management, research, and life challenges associated with brain injury and a leading influencer of public awareness and public policy change. It encourages individuals with brain injury and their family members to participate in meaningful ways while welcoming the involvement of researchers, clinicians, and other professionals. 

About Wolters Kluwer  

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.    

Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of €5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,900 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.  

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