A qualitative study on the symptom experience of neuropathic pain in patients with peripheral nerve injury

DENG Sijia; DAI Qiaoyan; XIAO Wanlian; HUANG Xiaomin; PENG Xiaoqiong; HUANG Tianwen

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-666X.2025.04.007

Abstract：Objective To explore the feeling and symptom experience of neuropathic pain(NP)in patients with peripheral nerve injury(PNI),and to clarify the needs of pain management,so as to provide a basis for medical staff to fully grasp the symptoms of pain,improve symptom management and promote the rehabilitation of patients.Methods The descriptive qualitative research method in qualitative research was used to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews.By purposive sampling method,12 patients who suffered from PNI with NP and treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between February and September 2023 were involved,and face-to-face interviews were conducted encompassing three core domains,the experience of pain-related illness trajectories,symptoms and signs of NP and its impact,coping strategies and expectations for pain management.Data were analyzed and then the subjects were extracted by Colaizzi's 7-step analysis method.Results A total of 3 core themes and 6 sub-themes were extracted,including symptom perception(uncertain symptom experience,complex and diverse changes in pain),symptom distress(sleep disorders and complex pain emotions),symptom self-management(self pain response and proactive seeking of support information).Conclusions Patients with PNI are facing various difficulties and burdens in terms of pain experience with a variety of NP symptoms.The lack of systematic support and guidance in self-managing pain symptoms is also a significant challenge.All these indicates medical staff need to pay attention to pain perception and symptom experience,and strengthen pain symptom management,so as to improve quality of life of patients with PNI accompanied with NP.