Post-stroke pain syndrome: clinical, pathophysiological characteristics and modern rehabilitation management

Background. Pain is a common complication after stroke and is associated with the presence of depression, cognitive dysfunction, and impaired quality of life. It remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, despite evidence that effective treatment of pain may improve function and quality of life. The article highlights the issues of epidemiology, pathogenesis, methods of clinical assessment and risk factors for the development of post-stroke pain. A review of the literature on the most common post-stroke pain syndromes including central post-stroke pain, complex regional pain syndrome, musculoskeletal pain, shoulder pain, pain associated with spasticity and headache is presented. Modern management of the pain is analyzed. Conclusion. In the best interests of optimizing the rehabilitation of a stroke patient, improving his quality of life and function after stroke, clinicians should be aware of pain as a common complication after stroke, identify those patients at highest risk, detail the presence and characteristics of pain, and also be aware of options for correcting post-stroke pain syndromes.