Symptom Based Treatment of Neuropathic Pain

Symptom-Based Treatment for Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injured Patients, Randomized Clinical Trial

1. Neuropathic pain in spinal cord injured patients

1. Inclusion criteria

   • pain intensity, visual analogue scale > 3
   • a LANSS (Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs) score of 12 and above
   • aged ≥20

2. Method

   • Stop pain medications
   • Test oxcarbazepine (150mg twice daily) and pregabalin (150mg twice daily)
   • Check pain intensity (VAS score) with Baron's classification

In the present study, pharmacologic treatment included pregabalin and oxcarbazepine.

Stop medications such as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), tramadol and anti-spastic drugs (baclofen, tizanidine) and other medications known to have effect on pain and the central nervous system prior to the study for at least 3 days.

1. Pain intensity (VAS score)

   1. 4 spontaneous characters

      • electric
      • burning
      • pricking
      • numbness

   2. evoked pain

      • allodynia
      • heat hyperalgesia
      • pressure hyperalgesia

2. Location of neuropathic pain

   1. neuropathic pain at level of spinal cord injury
   2. neuropathic pain below level of spinal cord injury

2. Side effects

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged than 20 years
• Neuropathic pain symptoms : LANSS (Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs) score of 12 and above
• Visual analogue scale score of 3 and above

Exclusion Criteria:

• No pregnancy
• systemic disease
• psychiatric disease