TBI and Chronic Pain: Part 3 | MSKTC

A TBI can cause damage in the brain or to the nerves that makes muscles not respond as they should. This is called spasticity. This comic explains spasticity and what can be done to improve symptoms of it.

This infocomic follows a TBI survivor as she learns to different ways of managing spasticity:

Stretching
Strength training
Mobility exercises
Heat packs
Oral medication

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND CHRONIC PAIN Part III: Managing Spasticity

I had to learn how to work with my body and my abilities before I could get more control over them.

Spasticity

My muscles don’t exactly do what I want them to.

My life has become much smaller because I talk myself out of doing things that will be hard.

Climbing Stairs

Carrying books

Tripping over a power chord.

I had anxiety that I would fall or do something embarrassing in public.

There are many different ways to manage spasticity.

The less I did, the less I was able to do.

I was very active before my injury.

I understand, do you mind if I stop by for a minute?

On Demand Pain Management Strategy.

I got you this yoga matt.

I thought that we could do yoga here!

Sonia came to my house every Wednesday.

I also started doing yoga daily with online videos.

I saw results almost right away.

I got more comfortable with more activity.

In the community my walking was faster and more stable.

Being able to more easily do things expanded my life.

Both anti-depressant medications and counseling can also be very helpful at managing depression.

Authorship and Illustration

Information Source of TBI and Chronic Pain: Part 3 Infocomic

Part 3 of the TBI and Chronic Pain infocomic series is based on the TBI and Chronic Pain factsheet series. This factsheet was developed by Silas James, MPA; Jeanne Hoffman, PhD; Sylvia Lucas, MD, PhD; Anne Moessner, APRN; Kathleen Bell, MD; William Walker, MD; CJ Plummer, MD; Max Hurwitz, DO, in collaboration with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center.

Related Resources for TBI and Chronic Pain

You can learn more by exploring the many resources on our Traumatic Brain Injury and Chronic Pain page.