Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2010 , Vol 56 , Num 2

Features of Central Pain in Patients with Hemiplegia

Nilay Şahin 1 ,Hatice Uğurlu 2
1 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Balıkesir Univesity Faculty of Medicine, Balıkesir, Turkey
2 Selçuk Üniversites Meram Tıp Fakültesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Konya
DOI : 10.4274/tftr.56.52

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate intensity of the central pain after a cerebrovascular episode and its effect on functional status. 
 

Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients complaining of pain, numbness, and tingling in the hemiplegic side were admitted to our stroke clinic and the functional status and intensity of pain were evaluated. The pain in the hemiplegic side was assessed by: patient history, visual analogue scale (VAS), physical examination, and activities of daily living using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). 
 

Results: The mean age of the patients was 59.98±15.19 years-24 females and 21 males. Intensity of pain by VAS is 6.75±1.22. Significant relationship was found between central pain and some subitems of the FIM i.e.self-care, transfers, social cognitions and total FIM (p<0.05). 
 

Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that central post-stroke pain affected the patients with lower functional status, despite the better motor recovery. In conclusion, the central pain, which is a serious cause of pain and disability, has negative effects on rehabilitation and must be primarily treated. 

Keywords : Central pain, hemiplegia, functional status, rehabilitatio