Author(s): Matthew G Erny, DO, Christina G Zaccarini, MD
Originally published: November 10, 2011 Last updated: November 1, 2023
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Disease/Disorder

Definition

Central poststroke pain (CPSP) is a central neuropathic pain syndrome that can occur after stroke in the part of the body corresponding to the cerebrovascular lesion. CPSP is characterized by pain and sensory abnormalities localized to the affected area. A diagnosis can be made only after having ruled out other potential causes of nociceptive, psychogenic, or peripheral neuropathic pain.1

Etiology

See Definition and Pathoanatomy/Pathophysiology sections.

Epidemiology including risk factors and primary prevention

  • CPSP has a prevalence of 8 to 55% in stroke patients.  The wide range is indicative of the difficulty in diagnosing this disease.2-5
  • Most cases present within the first 6 months after stroke, with the majority of cases developing within the first three months. Though rare, it is possible for CPSP to more than 6 months after stroke.2,4-6
  • Female sex predominance has been demonstrated,7,8 but not consistently.2,5
  • Younger patients are more susceptible.4,5,8
  • Higher NIHSS score has also been associated with increased occurrence of CPSP.4
  • Early evoked pain or dysesthesia at onset of stroke have been identified as a risk factor for future development of CPSP.9
  • No intervention can prevent the development of CPSP.

Pathoanatomy/pathophysiology

CPSP is believed to occur after a lesion at any level of the somatosensory pathway of the brain (cerebral cortex, thalamus, medulla, spinothalamic pathways, thalamocortical pathways) with resultant maladaptive neuroplastic changes within the central nervous system causing aberrant sensory perception.1,10 It is a common misperception that only strokes in the thalamic region can precipitate CPSP.  While some studies have shown that CPSP is more likely to occur after a thalamic stroke, others have contradicted these findings.3 Nevertheless, potential causes of CPSP include1

  • Central sensitization resulting from increased neuronal excitability of central nociceptive neurons.
  • Disinhibition of pain-signaling structures resulting from damage to inhibitory structures.
  • Thalamic dysfunction resulting from direct thalamic injury or thalamic deafferentation.  More typically, these strokes involve the posterolateral region of the thalamus.  Specifically, a lesion involving the border of the ventral posterior nucleus and pulvinar region has particular significance.7
  • Derangement of an oscillatory pattern inside a sensory cortico thalamocortical reverberatory loop causing the experience of pain (dynamic reverberation theory).

CPSP likely has multiple potential pathophysiological causes.

Disease progression including natural history, disease phases or stages, disease trajectory (clinical features and presentation over time)

A limited number of prospective studies suggest CPSP can be persistent.11 It is considered a potentially life-long complication that is burdensome to the patient and leads to decreased quality of life and interference with rehabilitation.1

Specific secondary or associated conditions and complications

CPSP has been associated with decreased quality of life.11,12 It may restrict a patient’s ability to participate in rehabilitation programs, thus leading to worsening of spasticity, development of contracture, and functional limitations. Patients with CPSP demonstrate inferior scores in measures of mood and disability compared to stroke patients without pain syndromes.12

Essentials of Assessment

History

CPSP is a diagnosis of exclusion, thus, careful elimination of other potential causes of pain after stroke must occur prior to diagnosing CPSP. These potential causes include (but are not limited to) complex regional pain syndrome, radiculopathy, plexopathy, peripheral mononeuropathy, hemiparetic shoulder pain (impingement syndrome, rotator cuff injury, adhesive capsulitis, bursitis, painful spasticity, shoulder subluxation), and deep venous thrombosis. Keys to CPSP symptomatology include:1,2,6,7,12

  • Pain is localized to the area affected by the lesion. Larger body areas are affected more commonly than smaller body areas.  The upper extremity is more frequently involved.
  • Pain is characterized most often as burning or aching; however, pricking, lacerating, shooting, squeezing, throbbing, heaviness are all possible qualitative descriptors.
  • Gradual onset is more common.
  • Pain can be spontaneous or evoked. Spontaneous symptoms occur continuously more often than paroxysmally. Evoked symptoms result from nociceptive and/or non nociceptive stimuli.
  • Symptoms may be aggravated by movement, touch, temperature (cold > warm), emotional stress; and may be palliated by movement, temperature (warm), rest, distraction. Note that movement and warmth (for example) may aggravate or palliate symptoms.
  • The intensity of pain experienced in CPSP tends to be higher than in stroke patients with other etiologies of pain and has been associated with higher affective component.12
  • It is generally accepted that there are no pain features pathognomonic for or universally present in CPSP.

Physical examination

There are no uniform signs associated with CPSP. Negative and positive sensory events are characteristic of CPSP.1,3,5,12

  • Negative sensory events including decreased sensation to thermal (particularly cold) and pain (pinprick) stimuli within the painful area are common in CPSP. Less common negative sensory events include decreased sensation to light touch and changes in joint position.
  • Positive sensory events including hyperalgesia to pinprick, allodynia to light touch and thermal stimuli (particularly cold), and hyperaesthesia (increased response to stimulus) are common in CPSP. One systematic review found that allodynia and hyperaesthesia occurred in 85% of patients with CPSP.  The same review found thermal allodynia to appear in 33% of patients.3  Less common positive sensory events include aftersensations, radiation of pain, and summation.

Laboratory studies

No laboratory studies are currently used for the assessment of CPSP.

Imaging

Identification of a central lesion with MRI or CT that corresponds to the painful body area is an important and appropriate component in the diagnosis of CPSP.  Strokes are more typically seen in the cortex, thalamus, or brainstem.  It is rare to develop CPSP after a basal ganglia stroke.4

Supplemental assessment tools

Several sets of criteria have been suggested but none are uniformly adopted.10 Pain drawings, pain scales, and other pain assessment tools are appropriate for the initial assessment of CPSP and also are useful to monitor the efficacy of interventions.

Rehabilitation Management and Treatments

Available or current treatment guidelines

The treatment of CPSP is challenging and must incorporate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions in order to maximize potential for success. Generally speaking, treatment benefits only a fraction of patients diagnosed with CPSP and response to treatment is incomplete for those whose symptoms do improve. Goals of treatment, then, should be focused on reduction, not elimination, of symptoms and return to functional activity. Treatment algorithms typically follow a trial-and-error approach and the concomitant use of various treatments in one patient is common.

Pharmacologic Management:1,3,7,13-16 Various antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists, antiarrhythmics, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists have been assessed for efficacy in the treatment of CPSP (See Table 1 below). An attempt at organizing the various pharmacologic options with regard to efficacy has been made to help the provider.

  • Antidepressants: Tricyclic antidepressants (specifically amitriptyline) have traditionally been considered 1st line pharmacologic management for CPSP however it should be noted data supporting this is limited to a single cross-over trial of 15 patients (also evaluated carbamazepine). Tolerance of tricyclic antidepressants also need to be carefully considered in elderly populations and those with cardiovascular co-morbidities.  Fluvoxamine may be beneficial in the treatment of CPSP, based on an open label study, particularly if concomitant depression is present.13Other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram have not been shown to be beneficial. A recent randomized controlled trial found positive results for duloxetine (serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) in the treatment of central post stroke pain and this class of medications could be better tolerated than tricyclic antidepressants.14
  • Anticonvulsants: Gabapentinoids including gabapentin and pregabalin are considered 1st or 2nd line treatments.7 Gabapentin has been studied in prospective, observational studies. Pregabalin has been evaluated in several RCTs and was determined to be effective in a recent network meta-analysis.15 The same meta-analysis found lamotrigine to be effective. Carbamazepine has limited data supporting its use as a treatment of CPSP.16 Very small case studies or open label studies (<10 patients) suggest possible benefit of phenytoin and zonisamide, but conclusions about the magnitude or durability of the benefit cannot be made.  Topiramate and levetiracetam are likely ineffective.   
  • Opioids: Opioids are generally not considered to have a positive risk-benefit ratio in the treatment of CPSP. Tramadol however may be an exception as it has serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor action in addition to binding opiate receptors.16 
  • NMDA antagonists: Ketamine may possess some efficacy (albeit short-lived); however, side effects and administration route limit its utility. Dextromethorphan is considered ineffective in the treatment of CPSP.
  • Antiarrhythmics: Mexiletine and lidocaine may transiently reduce pain in CPSP. Their utility is limited, however, given poor patient tolerance and need for intravenous administration, respectively.
  • GABA agonists: Intrathecal baclofen has been reported to be effective in a case series of patients with CPSP, however this has not been more widely studied or considered an indication for intrathecal baclofen pump placement. Oral baclofen is likely not useful. Propofol and thiamylal/thiopental also possibly have roles in the treatment of CPSP, however, only in the short-term relief of intractable pain.

Table 1. Pharmaceutical Options for Central Poststroke Pain

Central-Poststroke-Pain-Table-1Download

Nonpharmacologic Management:1,3,7,10,13,18,19 A number of nonpharmacologic interventions have been assessed for efficacy in the treatment of CPSP (See Table 2 below). Psychological treatment (for example, relaxation techniques and biofeedback), exercise therapy, and desensitization techniques may be beneficial in CPSP. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is likely not effective and may actually increase pain symptoms in some patients.  Acupuncture was found in one randomized control trial to significantly reduce pain in CPSP.  Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and vestibular caloric stimulation have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of CPSP, however are not widely accessible in the clinical setting. In particular, rTMS shows promise as a non-invasive treatment for CPSP that is generally well-tolerated. rTMS physiologically results in electromagnetic induction. The analgesic mechanism by which rTMS works is speculative and includes changes in cortical excitability, neuromodulatory effects impacting functional connectivity in the brain, enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission, and changes in neuroplasticity. There are no uniformly accepted parameters for treating CPSP, however high frequency stimulation is likely more effective than low frequency stimulation and multiple, sequential interventions are considered more effective than a single treatment session. Stimulation of the premotor cortex (M1) has shown good efficacy thus far.19

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and motor cortex stimulation via implanted stimulators show variable efficacy and should be reserved for patients with significant symptomatology who have exhausted pharmacological and less invasive nonpharmacologic treatment strategies.  Spinal cord stimulation has preliminarily been utilized in patients with intractable pain with some finding significant pain relief, however, studies are thus far limited.  It has been more successful in patients under 60 years old with non-thalamic strokes.  Mirror therapy and virtual reality have also shown promise in CPSP.

Table 2. Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions for Central Poststroke Pain

Central-Poststroke-Pain-Table-2Download

Patient & family education

The patient and family should be educated on the unclear etiology of CPSP, its likely chronic duration, the trial-and-error algorithm typically used for treatment, and the goals of treatment (reduction, not elimination, of symptoms and return to functional activity). Family training/involvement in nonpharmacologic interventions (for example, psychological treatments, desensitization techniques) may be beneficial.

Translation into practice: practice “pearls”/performance improvement in practice (PIPs)/changes in clinical practice behaviors and skills

Interdisciplinary management of CPSP is most appropriate, with goals focused on reducing symptoms and improving function. Initial management includes medication management coupled with desensitization technique training and relaxation and/or biofeedback training. Frequent reassessment with adjustment of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions affords patients the best opportunity to reduce symptoms and improve function.

Cutting Edge/Emerging and Unique Concepts and Practice

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is another poorly understood painful condition that presents with allodynia and hyperalgesia. CRPS, however, also possesses additional signs and symptoms including motor, sudomotor, vasomotor, and trophic abnormalities. CRPS after stroke and CPSP are considered distinct entities; however, the possibility of these two diagnoses existing on a continuum is not unreasonable. Pharmacologically, CRPS is treated similarly to CPSP, suggesting the possibility of similar pathophysiology. Demonstratively, one study reported resolution of symptoms in 91.2% patients with CRPS (“shoulder hand syndrome”) after stroke using an oral methylprednisolone taper,22 while another demonstrated significant improvements in patients with CPSP also receiving an oral methylprednisolone taper.23 Further exploring oral corticosteroid administration as an abortive treatment in CPSP might be a worthwhile endeavor.

Gaps in the Evidence-Based Knowledge

The establishment of a universally accepted definition of and diagnostic criteria for CPSP is of paramount importance both clinically and for research purposes. Consensus on these items as well as consensus on treatment algorithms should be the focus of national committees. Proposals for diagnostic criteria exist by Klit et al.1 and Pellicane et al.13; however, neither have been studied or validated.

Because most evidence for the treatment of CPSP is based on studies with a small number of subjects, large clinical trials are needed to further assess existing and novel approaches to the treatment of CPSP.  A large study evaluating a multi-drug program is of particular importance, as more than one medication is usually required to have pain relief.  These could also include evaluation of spinal cord stimulators, motor cortex stimulation, and acupuncture as treatment options.3,7

References

  1. Klit H, M.D., Finnerup NB, M.D., Jensen TS, M.D. Central post-stroke pain: Clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, and management. Lancet neurology; Lancet Neurol. 2009;8(9):857-868. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70176-0.
  2. Andersen G, Vestergaard K, Ingeman-Nielsen M, Jensen TS. Incidence of central post-stroke pain. Pain. 1995;61(2):187-193. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(94)00144-4.
  3. Singer J, Conigliaro A, Spina E, Law SW, Levine SR. Central poststroke pain: A systematic review. Int J Stroke. 2017;12(4):343-355. doi: 10.1177/1747493017701149.
  4. Vukojevic Z, Dominovic Kovacevic A, Peric S, et al. Frequency and features of the central poststroke pain. J Neurol Sci. 2018;391:100-103. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.06.004.
  5. Klit H, Finnerup NB, Andersen G, Jensen TS. Central poststroke pain: A population-based study. Pain. 2011;152(4):818-824. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.12.030.
  6. Leijon G, Boivie J, Johansson I. Central post-stroke pain — neurological symptoms and pain characteristics. Pain. 1989;36(1):13-25. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(89)90107-3.
  7. Akyuz G, Kuru P. Systematic review of central post stroke pain: What is happening in the central nervous system? Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2016;95(8):618-627. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000542.
  8. Hansen AP, Marcussen NS, Klit H, Andersen G, Finnerup NB, Jensen TS. Pain following stroke: A prospective study. European journal of pain; EJP. 2012;16(8):1128-1136. doi: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2012.00123.x.
  9. Klit H, Hansen AP, Marcussen NS, Finnerup NB, Jensen TS. Early evoked pain or dysesthesia is a predictor of central poststroke pain. Pain. 2014;155(12):2699-2706. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2014.09.037.
  10. Widyadharma IP, Tertia C, Wijayanti IS, Barus JFA. Central post stroke pain: What are the new insights? Romanian journal of neurology. 2021;20(1):28-34. doi: 10.37897/RJN.2021.1.4.
  11. Harno H, Haapaniemi E, Putaala J, et al. Central poststroke pain in young ischemic stroke survivors in the helsinki young stroke registry. Neurology. 2014;83(13):1147-1154. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000818.
  12. Barbosa LM, da Silva VA, de Lima Rodrigues, Antônia Lilian, et al. Dissecting central post-stroke pain: A controlled symptom-psychophysical characterization. Brain communications; Brain Commun. 2022;4(3):fcac090. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac090.
  13. Pellicane AJ, Harvey RL. Central poststroke pain. In: Stroke recovery and rehabilitation. 2nd ed. New York: Demos Medical Publishing, LLC.; 2014:249-266.
  14. Mahesh B, Singh VK, Pathak A, et al. Efficacy of duloxetine in patients with central post-stroke pain: A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.). 2022. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnac182.
  15. Bo Z, Jian Y, Yan L, et al. Pharmacotherapies for central post-stroke pain: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. 2022;2022:1-10. doi: 10.1155/2022/3511385.
  16. Choi HR, Aktas A, Bottros MM. Pharmacotherapy to manage central post-stroke pain. CNS Drugs. 2021;35(2):151-160. doi: 10.1007/s40263-021-00791-3.
  17. Lexicomp online, Lexi-drugs. Waltham, MA: UpToDate, Inc; July 22, 2023. https://online.lexi.com.  Accessed July, 23, 2023.
  18. Bae S, Kim G, Kim K. Analgesic effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on central post-stroke pain. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2014;234(3):189-195. doi: 10.1620/tjem.234.189.
  19. Pan L, Zhu H, Zhang X, Wang X. The mechanism and effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-stroke pain. Frontiers in molecular neuroscience; Front Mol Neurosci. 2023;15:1091402. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1091402.
  20. McClintock SM, Reti IM, Carpenter LL, et al. Consensus recommendations for the clinical application of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2018;79(1). doi: 10.4088/JCP.16cs10905.
  21. Eldabe S, Buchser E, Duarte RV. Complications of spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation techniques: A review of the literature. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.); Pain Med. 2016;17(2):325-336. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnv025.
  22. Braus DF, Krauss JK, Strobel Jö. The shoulder-hand syndrome after stroke: A prospective clinical trial. Ann Neurol. 1994;36(5):728-733. doi: 10.1002/ana.410360507.
  23. Pellicane AJ, Millis SR. Efficacy of methylprednisolone versus other pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of central post-stroke pain: A retrospective analysis. Journal of pain research; J Pain Res. 2013;6:557-563. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S46530.

Original Version of Topic

Anthony Pellicane, MD. Central Poststroke Pain. 11/10/2011

Previous Revision(s) of the Topic

Anthony Pellicane, MD. Central Poststroke Pain. 9/17/2015

Tomas Salazar MD, Eric Liu DO, Christine Greiss DO. Central Poststroke Pain. 5/2/2020

Author Disclosure

Matthew G Erny, DO
Nothing to disclose

Christina G Zaccarini, MD
Nothing to disclose