Unlocking the Hidden Challenge: Post-Stroke Pain and Its Impact on Recovery and Life Quality

Researcher Deniz Dishman, PhD, DNAP, CRNA from the UTHealth Houston Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases looked into how many stroke patients feel pain while they're in the hospital, comparing them to patients with COPD. They studied 821 stroke survivors and found that 43% of them had pain when they left the hospital. This pain was more common in stroke patients who were heavier, had more severe strokes, and stayed longer in the hospital. Surprisingly, when they compared stroke patients to COPD patients, even more COPD patients (61%) had pain when they left the hospital, showing that pain in stroke patients might not be recognized as well as it should.

Pain in stroke survivors is a big problem because it affects their ability to recover, take part in rehabilitation, and enjoy life. But doctors often miss it, which can lead to depression, memory problems, and a higher chance of having another stroke. This study reminds us how important it is to find and treat pain in stroke patients, right from the beginning of their hospital stay.

While this study gives us good information about pain in stroke patients, and it is clear that we need to do better at recognizing and treating pain in people who've had a stroke to help them feel better.

Read the full study HERE