Improvement in montreal cognitive assessment score following three-week pain rehabilitation program

Aim: To demonstrate improvement in cognitive function following a 3-week Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program. Methods: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was performed at initial evaluation and on dismissal day of the program. Results: The patient had chronic, non-cancer lower back pain for over 15 years for which patient had myriad of treatments. Patient was directed to Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program as a last resort treatment. The patient had moderate cognitive impairment when he joined the program (MoCA score of 17/30) that dramatically improved into the normal cognitive range by the end of the program (MoCA score of 26/30). Conclusions: Improvement in MoCA score was demonstrated after completion of the Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program, which is the first demonstrated case. Keywords: chronic pain; cognitive impairment; interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation; case report