Profile of Pain and Unpleasant Sensations in Patients With Referred Pain

Aalborg University90 enrolled

Overview

This feasibility study primarily aimed to assess the technology acceptance and usability of a pain tracking software in patients with spinally referred chronic pain. The secondary aim was to assess the fluctuations in pain intensity and distribution, using the pain tracking software during a 3-month period. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the patients' behavior when self-reporting pain when given the opportunity to use a variety of pain quality descriptors, such as tingling, burning and stabbing. Patients with spinally referred chronic pain will be recruited to participate. Participants will be asked to use a pain tracking software to create weekly pain reports for a 3-month period. These pain reports consist of pain drawings and intensity scales. Additionally, patients will complete baseline disability and pain catastrophizing online questionnaires. The project does not affect treatment or does not offer any intervention.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Referred Pain Somatic Pain Neuropathic Pain

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 85 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Suffer from pain in the neck or lumbar spine referring to a limb for a more than 7 consecutive days * Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy or breastfeeding, severe infections, cancer. * Epilepsy, Multiple sclerosis, history of stroke, diabetes, traumatic spinal cord injury resulting in permanent functions loss * Lack of ability to cooperate due to language barrier, cognition or inability to use technology.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in pain extent for 3 months

Changes in pain extent as measured by the number of pixels drawn in digital pain drawings, at weekly intervals.

Time frame: 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

Change in pain intensity for 3 months

Changes in usual and current pain intensity as measured by a Numerical Rating Scale, at a weekly interval.

Time frame: 3 months

Changes in pain location for 3 months

Changes of the location of pain measured by appearance and disappearance of pain in different body regions.

Time frame: 3 months

Disability levels at baseline

Description of disability levels as assessed by the Oswestry (if pain located in back) or the Neck Disability Index (if pain located in neck) online questionnaires.

Time frame: Baseline

Pain Catastrophizing score

Scores obtained from an online Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) at baseline

Time frame: Baseline

Profile of Pain and Unpleasant Sensations in Patients With Referred Pain

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (2)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes