Persistent pain following trauma

Abstract

Persistent pain following trauma can lead to long-term disability. This article reviews the pain syndromes most commonly seen following trauma. These include myofascial pain, sympathetically maintained pain, and phantom pain syndromes. Early diagnosis and treatment is emphasized in order to minimize the development of secondary problems of physical dysfunction, emotional deterioration, and substance abuse. Treatment modalities appropriate to these syndromes are reviewed and include medical, anesthesiological, rehabilitative, and behavioral medicine approaches. With prompt diagnosis and referral to a multidisciplinary pain treatment center, most patients will experience significant decreases in their pain, allowing them to return to the workforce and resume a normal life.