Intervention for erythromelalgia, a chronic pain syndrome: Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center, Mayo Clinic

Objective: To describe the response in patients with erythromelalgia to the pain rehabilitation program at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center at a tertiary referral medical center. Patients: Eight patients with erythromelalgia admitted to the pain rehabilitation program from January 1, 2002, through June 30, 2007. Main Outcome Measures: The Multidimensional Pain Inventory, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were administered at admission and dismissal from the program. Mean differences in scores were compared using 2-sided paired t tests. Results: Scores for the life interference, life control, and general activity subscales of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory showed significant improvement from admission to dismissal (all P < .05). Similarly, the scores of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the physical functioning and emotional role limitation subscales of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey were significantly improved after intervention (all P < .01). Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that pain rehabilitation is a useful method for managing painrelated impairment in physical and emotional functioning in patients with erythromelalgia.