Résumé
Background and aims: Chronic pain is a significant complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), severely impacting quality of life and rehabilitation outcomes. Despite treatment efforts, many patients experience refractory pain, leading to frustration for both patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs). This study aimed to explore the pain experiences of individuals with SCI during their first rehabilitation and examine HCPs' perspectives on chronic pain management. Methods: A qualitative methodology was employed in two complementary approaches. To access individual experiences, semi-structured interviews were conducted with inpatients (4 men and 1 woman; aged 29–61 years) experiencing chronic pain to explore their experiences, coping strategies, and perceptions of pain management. Successively, three focus groups with HCPs involved in multidisciplinary pain management or neurorehabilitation used patient-based clinical vignettes (drawn from the interviews) to stimulate discussion. Data from both approaches were thematically analysed. Results: Patients reported nociceptive, neuropathic, and care-related pain, often described as unbearable, significantly affect-ing morale, daily activities, and rehabilitation engagement. Pain relief, primarily reliant on medications, was often perceived as insufficient or losing effectiveness over time, prompting patients to explore alternative strategies. Three themes emerged from HCPs: an underestimation of pain severity and its biopsychosocial complexity, the critical role of multidisciplinary settings in effective treatment, and the importance of patient-HCP collaboration through tailored care, communication, and education. Conclusions: Pain profoundly impacts the rehabilitation process. Bridging patient experiences with HCP perspectives underscored the importance of multidisciplinary care, personalized treatment plans, and effective communication to improve outcomes for individuals with SCI.