title: Chronic abdominal pain in long-term spinal cord injury: a follow-up study.
abstract: METHODS
  A longitudinal postal survey.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of abdominal pain in long-term spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of the Danish SCI Association.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2006, a questionnaire on chronic abdominal pain and discomfort was sent to the 284 members of the Danish SCI association who had been members for at least 10 years; 203 of them responded. An almost identical questionnaire including questions on intensity and interference of pain within the past 7 days, as well as descriptors and treatment, was sent to the 178 surviving members in 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 130 (73%) responders, 125 answered the question on chronic abdominal pain. The mean time since injury was 30.5 (9.8) years. Chronic abdominal pain or discomfort was reported by 32.8% (41/125), and 23% (29/125) of responders had been at least moderately bothered by this in the past week. Abdominal pain or discomfort was more common in women and in those with self-reported constipation. The median intensity (numeric rating scale) was 6.0 (range 3-10) and it was often associated with autonomic symptoms. Nine (8%) of the 115 individuals who responded in both 2006 and 2015 had developed new abdominal pain or discomfort, 30 (26%) no longer reported it, and 28 (24%) reported it at both time points with a similar intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic abdominal pain or discomfort is common and bothersome in long-term SCI. It has a late onset, but the prevalence and severity do not seem to further increase between 20 and 30 years following SCI.
authors: Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Neurogastroenterology Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Nielsen
authors: Department of Surgery, Pelvic Floor Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Faaborg
authors: Department of Surgery, Pelvic Floor Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Christensen
authors: Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Neurogastroenterology Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Krogh
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Danish Pain Research Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: N B
authors: NB
authors: Finnerup
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors