New approach in acute spinal chord injury: out with traditional narcotics

Abstract

Acute pain is a prevalent consequence in traumatic and nontraumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Treatment often includes narcotics that can exacerbate neurogenic bladder and bowel, which in turn can be devastating to achieving independence. We hypothesized that an integrative approach including massage therapy, deep breathing, and tapentadol would treat acute pain, decrease narcotics, and have minimal impact on bowel and bladder function. We report an observation, ongoing case-series in an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility.