Effect on orofacial pain in patients with chronic pain participating in a multimodal rehabilitation programme - a pilot study

Abstract

Objectives: Orofacial pain in patients taking part in a multimodal rehabilitation programme (MMRP) due to chronic bodily pain is common but it is not known whether such a rehabilitation programme can also have an effect on the presence of orofacial pain. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an MMRP on orofacial pain frequency. The second aim was to evaluate differences in the effect on quality of life and on psychosocial factors related to chronic pain.

Methods: MMRP was evaluated through validated questionnaires from the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation (SQRP). Fifty-nine patients participating in MMRP filled out the two screening questions for orofacial pain in addition to the SQRP questionnaires before and after participation in MMRP during the period August 2016 to March 2018.

Results: Pain intensity decreased significantly after the MMRP (p=0.005). Fifty patients (69.4 %) reported orofacial pain before MMRP and no significant decrease after the programme (p=0.228). Among individuals with orofacial pain, the self-reported level of depression decreased after participation in the programme (p=0.004).

Conclusions: Even though orofacial pain is common among patients with chronic bodily pain, participation in a multimodal pain programme was not enough to reduce frequent orofacial pain. This finding implies that specific orofacial pain management including information about jaw physiology could be a justified component of patient assessment prior to a multimodal rehabilitation programme for chronic bodily pain.

Keywords: chronic pain; comorbidity; multimodal rehabilitation; rehabilitation medicine; specialist care; temporomandibular disorders.