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Osteoporosis International
Published in: Osteoporosis International 5/2018

01-05-2018 | Original Article

Long-term experiences of pain after a fragility fracture

Authors: A. Gheorghita, F. Webster, S. Thielke, J. E. M. Sale

Published in: Osteoporosis International | Issue 5/2018

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Abstract

Summary

Little is known about long-term pain after a fragility fracture. In this secondary analysis, we determined that pain continues to influence many patients’ lives more than 1 year after a fracture and that health care providers do not seem to adequately recognize or manage these long-term consequences.

Introduction

We characterized perspectives on long-term pain among men and women who had sustained a fragility fracture.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative data from 67 individuals recruited in three primary studies (47–89 years old; 55 women, 12 men). Eligible individuals from the primary studies were those who had reported pain related to their fracture beyond 6 months. Data about reported pain were re-analyzed using qualitative description as articulated by Sandelowski.

Results

Thirty-four individuals (47–89 years old; 4 men; 8 had sustained a vertebral fracture) reported pain related to their fracture in the primary studies. Thirty-one (91%) participants had sustained a fragility fracture at least 1 year previously (range 1–13 years). Patients described long-term pain beyond typical fracture healing times, generally unrelieved by analgesics, which affected their mobility, functional activity, independence, sleep, and energy. Health care providers were perceived to under-estimate timelines regarding the decrease of post-fracture pain and to not manage that pain. Participants reported that pain management was inadequate and that they developed their own strategies to respond to it.

Conclusions

Pain continues to influence many patients’ lives more than 1 year after a fragility fracture. Patient narratives could be useful to help health care providers to better recognize and manage this long-term consequence of fractures.
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Metadata
Title
Long-term experiences of pain after a fragility fracture
Authors
A. Gheorghita
F. Webster
S. Thielke
J. E. M. Sale
Publication date
01-05-2018
Publisher
Springer London
Published in
Osteoporosis International / Issue 5/2018
Print ISSN: 0937-941X
Electronic ISSN: 1433-2965
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-018-4399-7

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