thalmic pain syndrome

Hi,

I have been suffering from affects from my thalmic stroke in Jan 07'.
I  was wondering if you have any advice for me in dealing with the  
constant pain? I have tried various drugs, methadone, morphine. All  make
me goofy and do not eliminate the pain. Have tried acupuncture 5  times
from 2 different acupuncturist. No relief either time. It has  only
affected the right side of my body especially the  right  hand, arm, foot,
& leg. Any and all help would be greatly  appreciated.
  
  Thank you,
  Norman

[BobbHilton]

Dear Norman,
      Since this syndrome (The excruciating pain) was described in 1906, so many treatemt either fully or partially failed to control it , and the main reason was not the pain itself but also because the thalamus is a compacted area with different functions ..so if a small infarction happen would not only affect one area e.g sensory but also may affect the mood, behaviour, or tolerability as well..so your tolerance threshold would be much lower compared to other people with central neurogenic pain..which lead to call several trials in thalamic pain as a failure or poorly benifecial...One of the last thing used was DBS a deep brain stimulation which helped other type of neurogenic pain , but with some negative remarks in cases like yours....try first  to disscuss with your pain management specialist about the meds you used in the past and see if any of them could have been given more time to work better, then ask him about  DBS.

   Bob Hilton

[pat541]

I had a thalamic stroke 4 years ago and shortly after developed thalamic pain syndrome.

Sx I have are constant pins and needles on my left side, deep burning pain and tighting of my muscles.

To get relief from the deep buring pain I take 900 mg of gabapentin four tmes a day and lomotrigine 100 mg three times a day.  These are anti-culvasants drugs.

I would suggest seeing a good neurologist.

Pat Morlock

[trustedfriend]

When my wife had a stroke that hit her thalmus we found narcotics to be somewhat helpful & lyrica (gabapentin) was better.  For better or worse marijuana worked infinitely better than anything.  Fortunately, where we live one can get a prescription & marijuana is legal for medical uses.

Good luck,

trustedfriend

[wkrp8476]

What symptoms did the marijuana help after your wife used it.....thanks Much////

[TJordan981]

I had hypothalamic lacunar stroke on 01/09/09 with subsequent thalamic pain syndrome on my right side arm/hand & leg/foot/toes.  Constant tingling/burning/tightness/numbness & cold my entire right side of body.  After stroke, my doctor immediately put me on 75 mg Plavix same day.  After putting up with syndrome for 4 weeks, I went to my neurologist Thursday, 02/05/09 & told him the pain was really getting to me.  He prescribed Lyrica 75 mg twice a day.  He told me it would relive the tingling/burning, but not the tightness/numbness.  He was right on!  I've been on it for 3 days now and the tingling/burning sensations are just about unnoticeable now.
Hope this helps someone.