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Forty-nine patients(89.1%)described pain during the course of their illness.On admission,mean pain intensity(VAS)was 4.7+/-3.3.However,26 patients(47.3%)described pain that was either distressing,horrible,or excruciating(mean VAS,7.0+/-2.0).The most common pain syndromes observed were deep aching back and leg pain and dysesthetic extremity pain.Pain intensity on admission correlated poorly with neurologic disability on admission(r=0.26,p=0.06)and throughout the period of study(r<0.20,p>0.10). Forty-one patients(74.5%)required opioid analgesics,with 16(29.0%) receiving parenteral morphine to provide adequate pain relief.Moderate to severe pain is a common and early symptom of GBS and requires aggressive treatment.Pain intensity on admission is not a predictor or poor prognosis.Back and leg pain usually resolves over the first 8 weeks,but dysesthetic extremity pain may persist longer in 5 to 10%of patients despite motor recovery and the use of adjuvant analgesics. |
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