Pain relief as a primary treatment goal: At what point does functioning and well-being become more important? A case study of an adolescent with debilitating chronic pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pediatric chronic pain is a common problem with significant economic implications and devastating consequences on quality of life. The present report describes a case involving a 15-year-old girl with severe and debilitating chronic pain. RESULTS: Before her referral to a pain rehabilitation program, the patient saw numerous specialists who treated her with an aggressive medical regimen and two spinal cord stimulators. She was then referred for intensive interdisciplinary treatment and, after three weeks of rehabilitation, she reported clinically significant changes in anxiety, pain catastrophizing and functional disability. The patient was successfully titrated off all of her opioid medications and, eventually, both neurostimulator implants were removed. DISCUSSION: Interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation is a useful treatment for patients with chronic pain. With its primary emphasis on functional restoration as opposed to strictly pain reduction, patients can regain a higher quality of life with reduced pain and fewer medications, surgeries and hospitalizations. ©2014 Pulsus Group Inc. All rights reserved.