Abdominal Pain: A Comparison between Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation

Introduction. Most spinal-cord-injured patients have constipation. One-third develop chronic abdominal pain 10 years or more after injury. Nevertheless, very little is known about the nature of abdominal pain after spinal cord injury (SCI). It may be neuropathic or caused by constipation. Aim. To co...

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Main Authors: Pia Møller Faaborg, Nanna Brix Finnerup, Peter Christensen, Klaus Krogh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/365037
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author Pia Møller Faaborg
Nanna Brix Finnerup
Peter Christensen
Klaus Krogh
author_facet Pia Møller Faaborg
Nanna Brix Finnerup
Peter Christensen
Klaus Krogh
author_sort Pia Møller Faaborg
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Most spinal-cord-injured patients have constipation. One-third develop chronic abdominal pain 10 years or more after injury. Nevertheless, very little is known about the nature of abdominal pain after spinal cord injury (SCI). It may be neuropathic or caused by constipation. Aim. To compare characteristics of abdominal pain in SCI with able-bodied with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Subjects and Methods. 21 SCI and 15 CIC patients were referred for treatment of bowel symptoms. Constipation-related symptoms were assessed with the Cleveland Constipation Scoring System and the International Spinal Cord Injury Basic Bowel Function Data Set. Characteristics of abdominal pain were described using the Brief Danish Pain Questionnaire. Total gastrointestinal transit times (GITT) were measured by radiopaque markers. Results. Seventeen (81%) SCI and 14 (93%) CIC patients reported abdominal pain or discomfort within the last month (). Pain was considered more intense by CIC than by SCI patients (). Only minor differences were found in patient’s qualitative description of abdominal pain or in the location of pain. In neither SCI nor CIC was pain associated with GITT. Conclusion. Most characteristics of abdominal pain among SCI patients resemble those of CIC. This indicates that constipation is a major cause of pain after SCI.
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spelling doaj-art-68cede9314f446e98ea07131b5eee3112025-08-20T02:35:25ZengWileyGastroenterology Research and Practice1687-61211687-630X2013-01-01201310.1155/2013/365037365037Abdominal Pain: A Comparison between Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Idiopathic ConstipationPia Møller Faaborg0Nanna Brix Finnerup1Peter Christensen2Klaus Krogh3Neurogastroenterology Unit, Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Dk-8000 Aarhus, DenmarkDanish Pain Research Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Dk-8000 Aarhus, DenmarkPelvic Floor Unit, Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital, Dk-8000 Aarhus, DenmarkNeurogastroenterology Unit, Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Dk-8000 Aarhus, DenmarkIntroduction. Most spinal-cord-injured patients have constipation. One-third develop chronic abdominal pain 10 years or more after injury. Nevertheless, very little is known about the nature of abdominal pain after spinal cord injury (SCI). It may be neuropathic or caused by constipation. Aim. To compare characteristics of abdominal pain in SCI with able-bodied with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Subjects and Methods. 21 SCI and 15 CIC patients were referred for treatment of bowel symptoms. Constipation-related symptoms were assessed with the Cleveland Constipation Scoring System and the International Spinal Cord Injury Basic Bowel Function Data Set. Characteristics of abdominal pain were described using the Brief Danish Pain Questionnaire. Total gastrointestinal transit times (GITT) were measured by radiopaque markers. Results. Seventeen (81%) SCI and 14 (93%) CIC patients reported abdominal pain or discomfort within the last month (). Pain was considered more intense by CIC than by SCI patients (). Only minor differences were found in patient’s qualitative description of abdominal pain or in the location of pain. In neither SCI nor CIC was pain associated with GITT. Conclusion. Most characteristics of abdominal pain among SCI patients resemble those of CIC. This indicates that constipation is a major cause of pain after SCI.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/365037
spellingShingle Pia Møller Faaborg
Nanna Brix Finnerup
Peter Christensen
Klaus Krogh
Abdominal Pain: A Comparison between Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
title Abdominal Pain: A Comparison between Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
title_full Abdominal Pain: A Comparison between Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
title_fullStr Abdominal Pain: A Comparison between Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
title_full_unstemmed Abdominal Pain: A Comparison between Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
title_short Abdominal Pain: A Comparison between Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
title_sort abdominal pain a comparison between neurogenic bowel dysfunction and chronic idiopathic constipation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/365037
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AT klauskrogh abdominalpainacomparisonbetweenneurogenicboweldysfunctionandchronicidiopathicconstipation