Table 3.
Health utilization and treatments since onset of symptoms.
| Confirmed cases (N = 168) | Total (N = 198) | |
|---|---|---|
| Health visits (more than one possible) | ||
| Psychiatric admission | 0 (0) | <5 |
| Pediatric or hospital admission | 19 (11.3) | 23 (11.6) |
| Transfer to tertiary care | 39 (23.2) | 46 (23.2) |
| Emergency department | 102 (60.7) | 117 (59.1) |
| Blood work received | ||
| Complete blood count | ||
| Yes or ordered | 57 (33.9) | 67 (34.0) |
| Unknown | 26 (15.5) | 31 (15.7) |
| No | 85 (50.6) | 99 (50.3) |
| CRP | ||
| Yes or ordered | 53 (31.5) | 61 (31.0) |
| Unknown | 29 (17.3) | 34 (17.2) |
| No | 86 (51.2) | 102 (51.8) |
| ESR | ||
| Yes or ordered | 38 (22.6) | 46 (23.4) |
| Unknown | 30 (17.9) | 35 (17.8) |
| No | 100 (59.5) | 116 (58.9) |
| Special investigations patients received for this problem (more than one possible)* | ||
| CT of the brain | <5 | <5 |
| MRI of the brain | 12 (7.1) | 13 (6.6) |
| CT of the limb | 13 (7.7) | 17 (8.6) |
| Nerve conduction studies | 15 (8.9) | 18 (9.1) |
| Bone scan | 35 (20.8) | 36 (18.2) |
| Ultrasound | 35 (20.8) | 42 (21.2) |
| MRI of the limb | 86 (51.2) | 98 (48.5) |
| Radiographs | 140 (83.3) | 163 (82.3) |
| Number of specialist referrals for this problem | ||
| 1 | 13 (7.7) | 16 (8.1) |
| 2 | 21 (12.5) | 27 (13.6) |
| 3 | 43 (25.6) | 49 (24.7) |
| 4 | 49 (29.2) | 55 (27.8) |
| 5 | 22 (13.1) | 29 (14.6) |
| ≥6 | 20 (11.9) | 22 (11.1) |
| Specialist referrals for this problem (more than one possible)* | ||
| Psychiatry | <5 | <5 |
| Counselor (social work or school counselor) | <5 | 5 (2.5) |
| Others or unspecified | <5 | < 5 |
| Intensive pain rehab program | <5 | < 5 |
| Sports medicine or general practitioner with specialization | 7 (4.2) | 7 (3.5) |
| Surgical specialist (plastic surgeon, surgeon, neurosurgeon, or neurovascular) | 10 (5.9) | 12 (6.0) |
| Interventional anaesthesiologist or anesthesiologist | <5 | <5 |
| Internal medicine subspecialist (rheumatologist, neurologist, dermatologist, or bone specialist) | <5 | <5 |
| Physiatry or rehabilitation medicine | 21 (12.5) | 22 (11.1) |
| Occupational therapist | 21 (13.2) | 26 (13.1) |
| Pediatric neurology | 22 (13.1) | 30 (15.2) |
| Orthopedics | 27 (16.1) | 31 (15.7) |
| Pediatric rheumatology | 42 (25.3) | 53 (26.8) |
| General pediatrician | 54 (32.1) | 66 (33.3) |
| Psychologist | 59 (35.7) | 66 (33.3) |
| Pediatric orthopedics | 60 (36.3) | 68 (34.3) |
| Multidisciplinary pain clinic, transition clinic, or somatic rehabilitation clinic | 122 (72.6) | 137 (69.2) |
| Physical therapist | 140 (83.3) | 165 (83.3) |
| Pain medications and adjuvants (more than one possible)* | ||
| SNRIs | 5 (2.9) | 6 (3.0) |
| Sodium channel agents | 5 (2.9) | 6 (3.0) |
| Bisphosphonates | 5 (2.9) | 5 (2.5) |
| Medical cannabis | 5 (2.9) | 6 (3.0) |
| Ketamine infusion | 6 (3.6) | 6 (3.0) |
| Regional block | 8 (4.7) | 9 (4.5) |
| SSRIs | 9 (5.3) | 9 (4.5) |
| Tramadol | 14 (7.7) | 15 (7.6) |
| Other opioids | 20 (11.9) | 25 (12.6) |
| Compounded topical | 20 (11.9) | 30 (15.1) |
| Tricyclic antidepressants | 35 (20.8) | 41 (21.2) |
| Topicals | 39 (22.2) | 46 (23.2) |
| Gabapentinoids | 88 (52.3) | 96 (48.4) |
| Acetaminophen | 111 (66.0) | 133 (67.1) |
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories | 139 (82.7) | 164 (82.8) |
| Complementary medicine seen or advised for this problem (more than one possible)* | ||
| Naturopath or reflexologist | 5 (2.9) | 5 (2.5) |
| Acupuncture | 12 (7.1) | 12 (6.1) |
| Massage therapist | 13 (7.7) | 15 (7.6) |
| Chiropractor | 23 (13.7) | 26 (13.1) |
| Exercise therapist | 28 (17.8) | 30 (15.1) |
| Treatments initiated for this problem (more than one possible)* | ||
| Botox injections | <5 | <5 |
| Yoga | <5 | <5 |
| TENS | 25 (14.8) | 28 (14.1) |
| Pool hydrotherapy | 34 (20.3) | 37 (18.7) |
| Bracing or AFO or boot; cast | 57 (33.9) | 58 (29.2) |
| Orthotic or shoe inserts | 15 (8.9) | 18 (9.0) |
| Graded motor imagery | 65 (28.7) | 71 (35.8) |
| Psychological strategies | 88 (62.4) | 99 (50.0) |
| Fitness exercise | 91 (54.1) | 107 (54.0) |
| Desensitization | 100 (59.5) | 109 (55.0) |
| Pain education | 110 (65.6) | 125 (63.1) |
| Nutritional supplements initiated for this problem (more than one possible)* | ||
| Vitamin C | 37 (22.0) | 40 (20.2) |
| Omega 3 | 7 (4.2) | 9 (4.5) |
| Magnesium | 11 (6.5) | 12 (6.0) |
| Others | 5 (2.9) | 5 (2.5) |
*
Affirmative responses included “yes” and “ordered.”
AFO, ankle foot orthosis; CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; SNRI, serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; SSRI, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.