title: The management of pain in spasticity.
abstract: Pain is a common feature of spasticity and muscle spasms and the reasons for this are discussed in this article. However, the causes of this spasticity have to be determined and for successful management, knowing the underlying mechanisms, which produce spasticity, is necessary. In addition to knowing the range of available treatments, one has to know their particular contribution to the overall management of the patient. The assessment and management of the spastic patient is multi-disciplinary and painful spasticity changes over time. This therefore requires repeated assessments and the direction of the treatment may also change. Pain may be a dominant feature, but is rarely the sole symptom. This article looks at a strategy for the overall management of the patient with the focus on managing pain.
authors.affiliation: North Staffordshire Rehabilitation Centre, The Hayood, High Lane Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST6 7AG, UK.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadies
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D059408:Pain Management; D019051:Rhizotomy
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D001418:Baclofen