Central post-stroke pain in stroke patients: Incidence and the effect on quality of life

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of central post-stroke pain in stroke patients and the effect of central post-stroke pain on quality of life. Material and Methods: One hundred stroke patients (47 women, 53 men), admiting to the inpatient rehabilitation clinic or stroke outpatient followup clinic were included in this cross-sectional study. Patients with aphasia, intermediate and advanced levels of cognitive disorder, subarachnoid hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation, tumor, traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis causing hemiplegia, having neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndrome in the history were excluded. central pain was evaluated with Leeds assessent of neuropathic symptoms and signs pain scale (LANSS), quality of life was assessed with the Nottingham Health Profile. Results: The mean age of the patients were 60.27±11.59 years, stroke duration was 14.65 months (range 2-124). Hemiplegia was on the right side in 35 cases, left side in 65 cases. 77 patients had ischemic, 23 patients had hemorrhagic etiology. Twelve patients had central post-stroke thalamic pain. Central pain was related with a significant difference in the pain parameter of Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)(p=0.001). Conclusion: The central post-stroke pain is a complication that should not be ignored because it is not rare and has negative impact on the quality of life of patients with stroke.