EXPLORING THE ROLE OF NEUROSCIENCE PAIN EDUCATION IN MANAGING TRISMUS-RELATED DISCOMFORT

This is a case report. Trismus (restricted mouth opening) is a symptom that affects more than one third (38–45%) of patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). Trismus leads to difficulties with chewing, swallowing, pain and poor oral hygiene. Furthermore, trismus can have a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). The effect of pain neuroscience education has been shown to be effective in reducing pain improving function and lowering fear and catastrophization. Case presentation: patient was 46-year-old man, clerk by occupation. He had pain at jaw and difficulty in opening mouth for 4 years. More pain on the left side of face. The pain was continuous, chronic and stabbing pain which was aggravated by opening and chewing of mouth. He was having pain at neck with tightness of upper trapezius, levator scapulae and sclene muscles. He is having sever restricted range of motion of temporomandibular joint and somewhat restriction in cervical range of motion, after his last radiation session for tongue. In this study, intervention given was electrotherapy, manual therapy, MFR and focused more on pain neuroscience education [PNE]. After two month of physiotherapy treatment pre and post outcome for pain on visual analogue scale and range were measured using maximum interincisal distance [MID]. Conclusion: We conclude that, exercises therapy, electrotherapy and PNE is effective in terms of pain and improving symptoms of patients with trismus. So, this intervention is indicated in long term management of radiation induced trismus.