Chronic neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients: what is the impact of social and environmental factors on care management?

OBJECTIVE: In order to refine therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with chronic neuropathic pain, it appears essential to assess the impact of socioenvironmental factors on the onset of pain or its chronic nature. The aim of this article is to answer the following question regarding these factors: is there any evidence that managing these social and environmental factors could have a positive impact on the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in SCI patients?
METHODOLOGY: The English keywords were: Chronic neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury/human/adult and rehabilitation; functional independence; community integration; family support; employment; social environment; social support; life satisfaction; quality of life.
RESULTS: Thirty-four articles were selected, the data extracted from the literature highlighted several socioenvironmental factors that could have a potential impact on the onset of neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients.
CONCLUSION: It was impossible to directly answer this question based on the literature review only. Nonetheless, some socioenvironmental factors can be considered as potential triggering factors for the onset of chronic pain in spinal cord injury patients, i.e. a low degree of independence (C), low socioeconomic status (B), unemployment (B), and family and friends with a "negative attitude" (C).