How to manage thalamic pain syndrome?
I have a thalamic stroke a year ago. I experience pain, stiffness and pressure on my left side from trunk, to upper left leg and down my left arm. My elbow burns and my balance is off. I walk with a limp due to the sensation of rigidity. Does anyone else have similar symptoms?
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@bebold Hi, Ai has an explanation to show that they are very different items. I'm sorry to say that your post isn't really that helpful given it's factually incorrect.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Central Post-Stroke Pain (CPSP) are both debilitating chronic pain conditions, but they have entirely different origins, mechanisms, and diagnostic criteria. While CRPS typically stems from peripheral trauma or immobilization and is characterized by severe autonomic and inflammatory limb changes, CPSP is a central neuropathic pain disorder caused directly by a stroke lesion inside the central nervous system.
Notably, a stroke can sometimes trigger post-stroke CRPS (historically called shoulder-hand syndrome) in a weak limb, but this is a separate secondary complication from CPSP
Thalamic Pain Syndrome is a slightly outdated term when it was believed that only strokes in the Thalamus led to this pain developing. However it is now known this isn't the case.
The thalamus is the hub where 6 of our 7 main senses pass through prior to being passed on to other areas of the brain for interpretation.
This is just for info. I see the term Thalamic pain used quite a lot in the US. Elsewhere it has been changed to Central Post Stroke Pain to reflect that CPSP can arise from strokes in other areas.
It did make me wonder a little, if the stroke occurs in other areas will it be correctly diagnosed ?
This is from the faculty of pain medicine.
"Central post stroke pain is a common pain syndrome after stroke, estimated to occur in over one-third of cases of post-stroke pain. Most commonly, it develops within 3 to 6 months of stroke although it may occur sooner. Symptom onset is often gradual, usually associated with improved subjective sensory loss and the appearance of dysaesthesia. The pain is quite severe and constant. CPSP is commoner in younger stroke victims who are reported to be twice as likely to develop this horrid pain. Most patients report a constant pain with superimposed lancinating pain as well as hyperalgesia and allodynia on examination. Patients who have sustained a thalamic stroke are more likely to develop CPSP. Dejerine-Roussy Syndrome occurs in around one third of cases of Central post stroke pain and is associated with thalamic strokes.
However central post stroke pain can also occur with strokes affecting the spinothalamic tracts, and brain stem as well as the cortex. Strokes affecting the right hemisphere are more commonly associated with pain. "
Thalamic pain can be really difficult to manage, and what works for one person may not work for another. It might help to keep a simple pain diary to track triggers, sleep, and which treatments provide relief, then discuss the patterns with a neurologist or pain specialist. Connecting with others who understand this condition can also be helpful.
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