Impact of neuropathic pain on participation: perspectives from the Canadian SCI community survey.

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of an observational cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To determine if the perceived overall limitation of neuropathic pain on activities (NP limitation) covaries in 26 specific life activities in people with SCI, taking into account the severity of injury. SETTING: Community-based in Canada. METHODS: Secondary analysis of a cohort (N = 1481) was performed using questionnaires to rate NP frequency and limitation on activities as well as participation in 26 life activities. Relative risks (RR) analyses using Poisson regression were used to examine the data. RESULTS: Most participants (N = 1158; 78%) reported living with NP (from once a year to every day). When NP limitation was described as "not at all" or "very little" (N = 394; 34%), there was no statistically significant RR (p > 0.0019), suggesting no additional risk of not participating "as much as wanted" in any of activities compared to participants with no NP. When NP limitation was described as "to some extent" (N = 411; 35%), a significantly higher risk was observed for 5 of the 26 activities (1.34 < RR < 1.62), and for 23 activities with a large range (1.24 < RR < 3.20) when NP limitation was rated as "to a great extent or more" (N = 353; 31%). CONCLUSION: The variation of RR observed across the 26 activities suggests that the NP limitation may not be general but rather related to specific activity characteristics, which should be taken into account when evaluating NP limitations with a specific focus on the life activities being affected.