What is Central Poststroke Pain?
Common Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments
Am I Suffering from Central Poststroke Pain?
If you or a loved one have suffered a stroke and are still experiencing constant or intermittent pain following a stroke, you may have Central Poststroke Pain (CPSP). This condition (sometimes referred to as Post Stroke Syndrome) can be yet another painful after-effect of a stroke. Patients already living with post-stroke deficits or even those on the road to recovery are right to ask, “Why am I still in so much pain?”
What Are the Symptoms of Central Poststroke Pain?
The symptoms of Central Stroke Pain are intense episodes of pain, often triggered by nothing more than a touch. Patients often describe this pain as burning, scalding, freezing or stabbing. On occasion, these episodes result in debilitating, full-body pain. Sufferers often live their life in fear that their movements or a touch from a friend or family member will cause unbearable pain. The pain is more often than not associated with abnormalities of sensation, particularly of thermal sensation, in the painful body area. They may also complain of pins and needles sensations, pressure-like sensations or creepy crawly sensations.
What Causes My Pain?
In Central Stroke Syndrome, damaged portions of the brain or spinal cord receive more signals than they can handle, causing neighboring nerves to start firing independently. In extreme cases, the brain’s sensory center (the thalamus) will be unable to cope with the signals and will shut down entirely. At this point, the entire nervous system functions as one triggered nerve ending and resulting in the indescribable pain experienced by the sufferer.
What Are My Treatment Options If I Have Central Poststroke Pain?
There are several courses of treatment that may help reduce the symptoms of Central Poststroke Pain (CPSP), including:
- Pain Relievers (Analgesic or Narcotics)
- Anti-Convulsant medications
- Deep Brain or Motor Cortex Stimulation
Finding the right treatment plan takes time. Dr. de Lotbinière will work with you to find the best course to help relieve your pain.
What Are The Next Steps?
If you or a loved one think you might be suffering from Central Poststoke Pain (CPSP), you can turn to the expertise of Dr. Alain de Lotbinière for solutions. With offices conveniently located in both Connecticut and New York, a consultation with more answers than questions is just around the corner.