A comprehensive, multispecialty approach to an acute exacerbation of chronic central pain in a tetraplegic

Spinal cord injuries can cause chronic pain that severely impacts a person's life. This pain can be difficult to manage and may worsen suddenly. This case report highlights the importance of a team-based approach involving multiple medical specialists to effectively treat sudden flare-ups of chronic pain in patients with spinal cord injuries. The patient's care involved treating a urinary tract infection, managing depression, resolving a bowel obstruction, and adjusting pain medications, demonstrating the complexity of such cases.

• 1
  A multidisciplinary approach, addressing various underlying medical issues and psychological factors, is crucial in managing acute exacerbations of chronic central pain in SCI patients.
• 2
  The patient's pain decreased significantly after addressing his urinary tract infection, depression, and bowel obstruction, alongside adjusting his pain medication regimen.
• 3
  Follow-up showed no return of pain exacerbations beyond the patient’s baseline pain.