Pain

 

Reducing pain

Patients may have been prescribed different types of medication to help reduce pain following stroke. The type of medication that the patient requires will depend on what type of pain they have and may include:

• Paracetamol or codeine
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or diclofenac
• BotulinumToxin (Botox) injections may be used when pain is associated with spasticity
• Amitriptyline is a drug for depression and gabapentin is a drug for epilepsy; these may be used for patients experiencing neuropathic or central post-stroke pain as usual painkillers often have little effect on this type of pain. Side effects may include drowsiness and dizziness. Patients don’t have to have depression or epilepsy for these tablets to help reduce their pain levels

and what you can suggest:

• Stress, anxiety and emotional upset can make pain worse; relaxation techniques such as meditation, visualisation or gentle yoga may help
• It may be useful to provide information about relaxation CDs that are available in bookshops and on-line; some community centres run relaxation classes – local libraries or health centres, should have information about local classes.
• If a patient or their relatives are struggling to cope a referral should be made to the GP with recommendation to refer onto specialist services