Review of Treatment for Central Spinal Neuropathic Pain and Its Effect on Quality of Life: Implications for Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.
Maureen A Mealy, Sharon L Kozachik, Michael Levy
PMID 31103517WHAT IT FOUND
Treating central spinal neuropathic pain often reduces pain but fails to improve quality of life.
Across 21 studies, only six improved both. Clinicians should target symptom clusters like fatigue and mood, not just pain intensity, to help patients feel better.
Key findings
01Only six of the 21 reviewed studies showed that an intervention improved both pain levels and quality of life.
02No studies specifically focused on patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder, so evidence is extrapolated from spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis populations.
03Treating pain in isolation may not improve quality of life because chronic conditions involve symptom clusters like anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
No studies specifically included patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder, so findings are extrapolated from other spinal conditions. The studies were generally small, with a median sample size of 29.5, which limits the reliability of the findings. A wide variety of non-standardized pain and quality of life measurement tools were used across the studies, making direct comparison difficult. The review was a narrative literature review, not a systematic review or meta-analysis, so the selection of studies relied on author judgment.
Declared interests
The provided text does not include a conflicts of interest or funding statement.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a treatment that reduces pain scores will improve the patient's quality of life. The review found that seven studies improved pain but not quality of life, and four improved quality of life without reducing pain. Treating the pain sensation alone is often insufficient to help patients feel better overall.