Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2017 Jan;9(1):63-75.
doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2016.05.015. Epub 2016 Jun 16.

Demystifying Poststroke Pain: From Etiology to Treatment

Andrew K Treister  1 , Maya N Hatch  2 , Steven C Cramer  3 , Eric Y Chang  4
Affiliations
Review

Demystifying Poststroke Pain: From Etiology to Treatment

Andrew K Treister et al. PM R. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Pain after stroke is commonly reported but often incompletely managed, which prevents optimal recovery. This situation occurs in part because of the esoteric nature of poststroke pain and its limited presence in current discussions of stroke management. The major specific afflictions that affect patients with stroke who experience pain include central poststroke pain, complex regional pain syndrome, and pain associated with spasticity and shoulder subluxation. Each disorder carries its own intricacies that require specific approaches to treatment and understanding. This review aims to present and clarify the major pain syndromes that affect patients who have experienced a stroke in order to aid in their diagnosis and treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) the spinothalamic tract. (b) the nuclei of the thalamus.
Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) the spinothalamic tract. (b) the nuclei of the thalamus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. O’Donnell MJ, Diener HC, Sacco RL, et al. Chronic pain syndromes after ischemic stroke: PRoFESS trial. Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation. 2013 May;44(5):1238–1243. - PubMed
    1. Chae J. Poststroke complex regional pain syndrome. Topics in stroke rehabilitation. 2010 May-Jun;17(3):151–162. - PubMed
    1. Leijon G, Boivie J, Johansson I. Central post-stroke pain--neurological symptoms and pain characteristics. Pain. 1989 Jan;36(1):13–25. - PubMed
    1. Nicholson BD. Evaluation and treatment of central pain syndromes. Neurology. 2004 Mar 9;62(5 Suppl 2):S30–36. - PubMed
    1. Kumar B, Kalita J, Kumar G, Misra UK. Central poststroke pain: a review of pathophysiology and treatment. Anesth Analg. 2009 May;108(5):1645–1657. - PubMed

MeSH terms