Attitude of outpatients with neuromuscular diseases in Japan to pain and use of analgesics

The prevalence of pain and its impact on outpatients with neuromuscular disease, and their attitude towards the use of analgesics were studied. Seventy-eight outpatients at the university hospital, Tokyo, diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, spinocerebellar degeneration, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or multiple sclerosis were asked whether they had experienced pain in the preceding week. The Brief Pain Inventory, Japanese version was used to interview participants reporting pain, about its intensity and interference with activities, the way they dealt with it, attitudes to pain and use of analgesics, and desire for treatment. Forty-six participants experienced pain in the preceding week (59%). The mean pain intensity was 4.1 out of 10, and 20% of participants reported that the degree of interference with mobility was at least 6 out of 10. Most participants dealt with their pain without medication, by changing posture frequently or massage. Approximately 80% of participants regarded pain as something they should endure. Half of the participants wanted more information on methods for pain relief. Approximately 80% of participants were anxious about adverse reactions of analgesics. These findings suggest that medical staffs should provide appropriate information and educate their patients.