Post-Stroke or Central Pain

You want to know what’s causing your pain and how to stop it. We do, too. Since it can sometimes take years for CPSP symptoms to appear, it can be hard to diagnose. But AdventHealth is here to help. By learning about where your pain exists and how long you've been hurting, we can rule out nerve damage that is common with age and other possible causes. The best way to confirm that your post-stroke pain is rooted in the central nervous system is a simple touch test.

During a touch test, our team may use heat, cold, or a light prick to stimulate specific pathways and test for loss of sensation. These tests can also tell us more. Sometimes, a stroke can make your body hypersensitive to touch, causing a brush of the skin to feel like pins and needles. This telling sign of central or thalamic pain syndrome is a treatable condition called allodynia. Whatever's causing your discomfort, our pain management specialists are here to erase it so you can focus on recovering your strength and living a more-comfortable post-stroke life.

You want care that addresses your post-stroke pain from head to toe. We pay close attention to your entire body and central nervous system and beyond. Our whole-person approach to care is designed to prioritize your physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Once we pinpoint the cause of your post-stroke pain, our goal is to manage it and help you find the relief you seek.

After a stroke, messages can get mixed up between your brain and your body. Cold may feel warm or vice versa, or you might lose sensation altogether. Your brain can even tell your body that something is painful when it’s usually not. These are common signs of CPSP syndrome, or thalamic pain syndrome. Whatever your symptoms, the pain management specialists at AdventHealth are here to listen, lend a hand, and guide you to finding relief for your discomfort.

Your main focus is recovery from your stroke. Let’s manage your post-stroke pain together to make your path as easy as possible. At AdventHealth, we use the most-advanced CPSP syndrome treatments to help relieve your pain for the short- and long-term, including:

• Analgesic Painkillers
• Anticonvulsants
• Antidepressants
• Anti-Spasticity Muscle Relaxants
• Cortisone Injections
• Electrical Nerve Stimulation
• Heat and Stretching Exercises
• Muscle Relaxants
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
• Physical Therapy

Your journey to recovery isn't one you'll face alone. Our pain management team will be here to support you long after your stroke, helping relieve your pain, ease your mind, and minister to your spirit so you can focus on your recovery.