How to deal with stroke pain: Treatment methods and what to expect

Many people who have experienced having a stroke in the past eventually develop stroke pain. This article will focus on the pain that is felt by stroke victims and what should be done about it. Keep in mind that knowing what stroke symptoms are being experienced, especially pain is important, find out why it is important here.

What is stroke pain?

Stroke pain is very unpredictable. It may occur days after the stroke, months and even years after. It can also arise after a patient has had a major stroke or a minor one. How the pain is perceived by the patient may vary as well. The person may experience burning, a prickling sensation or aches that may be spread throughout the body such as the face, arms, legs, and trunk. Sometimes the pain can radiate through an entire half of the person’s body.

Although many aspects of stroke pain are unique and unpredictable, some parts are uniform and can characterize the pain to be caused by the stroke. The pain is more likely to occur if the previous stroke had affected the right side of the brain. Patients describe the pain to be constant, with some reporting there to be a stabbing component of the pain that happens intermittently. The pain is also more likely to get worse with the changes in temperature, and movement.

Treatment methods available for stroke pain

There are three ways by which stroke pain may be managed. 

Surgical treatment. Surgical treatment may stand to reduce the patient’s stroke pain by as much as 50%. Some patients claim total pain relief because of surgery.

Medical intervention. There are a few medicines that can treat the pain caused by the stroke. However, these medicines will only treat the pain and not the underlying cause. The pain may still recur after the medicine has worn off. Patients may take anti-depressant medications or sometimes even anti-seizure medications to treat stroke pain.

Psychological treatment. It has been proven that pain can be aggravated by depression and anxiety. However, having pain may also cause depression and anxiety. This is a vicious cycle that patients can break by finding a psychological treatment provider that specializes in administering treatment for chronic pain caused by stroke. 

What you can do

If you have a loved one who has experienced a stroke in the past and has been experiencing stroke pain, take them to see their doctor. The doctor will be able to advise you and your loved one as to which type of treatment method will benefit them the most. They will also be able to give you an update on the overall health of your loved one. The doctor will also be able to advise you on how to prevent further strokes in the future. If you have a family history of stroke, it is important to know how to prevent it from happening.

If you have any questions about strokes and stroke prevention, the doctor will be able to answer all of them. They will also be able to help put your mind at ease about your loved one’s stroke pain by providing treatment options.