The principles of pharmacotherapy of poststroke shoulder pain

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the results of examination and treatment of patients with poststroke shoulder pain. Material and methods. The study included 213 patients who have had a stroke, including 16.4% patients with poststroke shoulder pain in early recovery period and 35.9% patients with poststroke shoulder pain in late recovery period. Therapeutic efficacy of amitriptyline, lidocaine (intravenously), pregabalin, tizanidine and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs was assessed. Results and conclusion. Dysfunction of nervous system plays the main role in this pain syndrome. The efficacy of the drugs in the early/late recovery period was estimated as follows: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — 33%/12%, amitriptyline — 24%/42%, gabapentin — 10%/13%, lidocaine — 95%/100%, tizanidine — 29%/33%. Seventy-six percent of patients were free of pain after treatment using a regimen suggested by the authors.