Abstract:

Background/Aim: Neuropathic pain is a condition that can be seen in the post-stroke period and affects the patient's quality of life, mood, and participation in the rehabilitation program. Our aim in this study is to investigate the frequency of neuropathic pain in stroke patients and to examine whether they receive appropriate treatment. Method: This study was designed as a retrospective, single-center clinical trial. Patients with stroke who applied to our physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic between June 2021 and June 2022 were included in the study. Patients with history of aphasia, cognitive dysfunction, subarachnoid hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation, tumor, traumatic brain injury, complex regional pain syndrome were excluded from the study. The plegic side, the severity of pain with the numerical pain scale (NPS) and neuropathic pain with the S-LANSS (Self – Leeds Assesment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs) questionnaire were questioned by making phone calls with the patients. The drug treatments they used were questioned. Results: A total of 41 patients (22 male, 19 female) were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 63.54 ± 10.97 years. There were 22 right hemiplegic and 19 left hemiplegic patients. Neuropathic pain frequency was 41.5% (17 patients). NPS, S-LANSS (p = 0.0001) and gabapentinoid use (p = 0.014) were found to be significantly higher in people with neuropathic pain. Conclusion: The frequency of neuropathic pain was found to be significantly higher in stroke patients. Detecting neuropathic pain and treating it appropriately will improve the quality of life of stroke patients.

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