Pain is a frequent problem after stroke. It can occur soon after a stroke, but can also develop sometime later. This page looks at different types of post-stroke pain including muscle and joint pain such as spasticity and shoulder pain, headaches and central post-stroke pain.

If you are in pain after a stroke, try speaking to your GP or stroke nurse. The pain could be related to the stroke, or it could have another cause. You need help to find out why it is happening, and get the best treatment to reduce your pain.

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On this page:

Shoulder pain after stroke
How is shoulder pain treated?
Pain in your joints and soft tissues (spasticity and contractures)
How is spasticity treated?
How are contractures treated?
Central post-stroke pain (CPSP)
How is CPSP treated?
Swollen hands
Headaches
Alternative methods of managing pain after stroke

Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is common among stroke survivors. It usually happens on the side of your body affected by the stroke. There are many different conditions that cause shoulder pain. While some improve with targeted treatment, sometimes it becomes a long-term condition.

Frozen shoulder

After a stroke you may find your shoulder is very stiff and that it hurts when you move it. This is called frozen shoulder, or capsulitis. The shoulder is a ‘ball and socket’ joint, with a rounded shape at the end of the upper arm fitting into a hollow space in the shoulder blade. Muscles and ligaments hold the arm bone in place. There is a layer of tissue that surrounds this joint which is called a capsule.

If your arm muscles are very weak, stiff or paralysed, the effect of gravity puts a strain on your ligaments and your capsule. This can cause these parts of your shoulder joint to become inflamed, stretched and damaged. Having weakness in your arm muscles may contribute to this pain in your shoulder.  

Subluxation

Another common shoulder problem after stroke is subluxation. This means partial dislocation, when the rounded end of the upper arm bone moves slightly out of its socket. This happens because the muscles that normally hold this joint in place are weakened due to the stroke, and the weight of the arm can pull and stretch the soft tissues and you may feel pain. Positioning the arm correctly can help. Subluxation is usually more noticeable while you’re sitting. A physiotherapist may suggest supporting the weak arm on pillows early after stroke. Note that subluxation does not always cause pain.

How is shoulder pain treated?

Prevention

If you have weakness in your arm following your stroke, your therapist will try to prevent shoulder pain developing. They will make sure that anyone who handles your arm knows how to do so with care and without causing strain on your shoulder joint.

They should also ensure that your arm and shoulder are positioned correctly.

Correct positioning is vital because it can help to reduce the strain on your ligaments and capsule, helping to prevent frozen shoulder from developing. It may also help to prevent your shoulder blade and upper arm bone from moving apart (subluxation). You may need to use foam supports to make sure that your shoulder is supported in the correct position. Your arm can also be supported using a pillow.

Shoulder taping or orthotic supports may be useful. However, they should be prescribed by your therapist, with clear guidance on their use. Supports should be regularly monitored and should not stop you moving your arm.

Your physiotherapist should consider using electrical stimulation on the muscles around your shoulder, to help prevent or reduce subluxation. If this is prescribed, the device often needs to be used throughout the day, following advice from your therapist. You and your relatives or carers and clinicians should be trained to safely use electrical stimulation devices.  See the ‘Alternative methods of treating pain’ section later in this guide.

Reducing pain

You may be given painkillers such as paracetamol. Seek a doctor’s advice before taking painkillers, as they can increase the risk of bleeding if you are on a blood thinning medication such as aspirin.

If you also have inflammatory arthritis, a steroid may be injected into your joint to help reduce the pain.

Moving your shoulder

It is important to keep the muscles in your shoulder and arm active so any stiffness does not get worse. Your physiotherapist may use stretching exercises to move your shoulder joint in all directions. They can also give advice about how to protect your shoulder during everyday movements, such as reaching for something or getting dressed.

Pain in your joints and soft tissues (spasticity and contractures)

A stroke can damage the way the nerves control your muscles. This can lead to muscles contracting for long periods or going into spasm, which can be painful. This muscle tightness is known as spasticity, or hypertonia. A stroke can cause muscle weakness down one side, also known as hemiparesis. Spasticity affects the weakened muscles, often in the arms and hands, but also in the legs.

If it’s not treated, spasticity can lead to the muscles being permanently shortened. This is known as a contracture. If this happens, it can mean the joint cannot be fully bent or straightened and the muscles cannot be stretched to their full length.     

How is spasticity treated?

If you have muscle weakness after your stroke, you should be assessed for spasticity and receive therapy to reduce the risk of contractures. Treatments may include a combination of physiotherapy, injections of botulinum toxin type A, and other medications.

Physiotherapy

If you have spasticity, you should be given physiotherapy exercises. This will help to keep muscles and joints flexible and reduce the possibility of contractures. Your physiotherapist will give advice and pictures for positioning your arm when in bed or sitting up. They will also give you stretches and exercises to build strength. See our physiotherapy page for more information.

Botulinum toxin type A

Botulinum toxin type A is given as an injection directly into your muscle. Botulinum treatment is only effective as part of a programme including rehabilitation such as physiotherapy, or other treatments like splinting or casting, to ensure that any range gained in the muscle is maintained. You should also have an assessment three to four months after the treatment, and be offered further injections if they are considered helpful.

The main brand names used for this treatment are Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. Botulinum toxin type A works by blocking the action of the nerves on the muscle, reducing your muscle’s ability to contract. This reduces muscle tone (makes the muscle less tight), which can help you to straighten out your limbs. This treatment is mainly used for post-stroke spasticity in the hands, wrists and ankles. The muscle-relaxing effects of botulinum toxin type A usually last for about three months, and you should not notice any changes in sensation in your muscles.

Medication

If you have generalised spasticity affecting multiple areas of your body, other types of medication may help reduce the stiffness and pain that often comes with spasticity. Muscle relaxants can help you move and stretch more easily and may reduce muscle spasms.

There is a range of medication available for spasticity. You may need to try more than one or take a combination that works for you. Each type of drug has different benefits and side effects. Your doctor and pharmacist can support you with practical advice on the best way of taking them.

Cannabinoid medications are a newer treatment sometimes offered to people with multiple sclerosis to help with spasticity. These medications are not given for use after stroke, as the current evidence does not show how effective they are.

How are contractures treated?

Splinting and casting

If you develop contractures, your therapist may use a splint or a cast that moulds to or lies along your affected limb and holds it in place. This treatment helps to stretch out the muscles in your tight limbs and is usually combined with physiotherapy. Sometimes this treatment is used to try to prevent contractures from forming by making sure that your body is not in an abnormal position. Unfortunately splints and casts can sometimes be uncomfortable. Talk to your physiotherapist about what would be best for you.

Central post-stroke pain (CPSP)

Up to one in five people who have a stroke may develop central post-stroke pain (CPSP). It is also known as neuropathic pain or central pain syndrome. It usually starts within three to six months after a stroke, but it can begin earlier. CPSP happens when areas of the brain that interpret pain are affected by the stroke.

There are different types of pain you might experience if you have CPSP. Many people describe it as a burning or burning cold sensation, or a throbbing or shooting pain. Some people also have pins and needles or numbness in the affected areas. For most stroke survivors with CPSP, the pain occurs in the side of their body affected by the stroke. Some people find this pain becomes worse because of other factors such as movement or a change in temperature. 

How is CPSP treated?

Ordinary painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen do not help with CPSP. Some types of drug that change the chemicals in the brain can be helpful. The main drugs used include amitriptyline and the anti-epilepsy drugs gabapentin and pregabalin. Your doctor and pharmacist will support you to find the right dose or combination of drugs that work for you.

If treatments have been unsuccessful, you might be able to access a pain clinic. Contact your GP for help.

Swollen hand

A swollen hand can happen if you are not moving your hand very much, or are unable to move it. Older people and those who had more severe strokes are most likely to experience this condition. The swelling may happen because fluid builds up in the tissue if the muscles are not moving around. It’s more likely to happen if the hand is hanging downwards. Painful swelling can make it more difficult to move your hand and arm, which can make spasticity worse.

To overcome this problem, it is best to raise your hand on a pillow or a cushion, and get your hand moving again gently with the help of your physiotherapist.  

Headaches

There are many reasons why you might have headaches after a stroke. Find out more here about headaches after stroke.

Alternative ways of managing pain after stroke

If you find medication or physiotherapy have not helped to relieve your pain, there are some other approaches you can try.

Pain clinics and pain management programmes

Pain clinics and pain management programmes can help you find ways to manage your pain in the longer-term to improve your quality of life. If you are in pain despite initial treatment, and it is causing you distress or significantly limiting what you are able to do, ask your GP to refer you to a pain clinic. 

Pain clinics provide different treatments and advice to help you manage your pain. The kinds of treatment that are available from pain clinics vary across the UK.

Some pain clinics run pain management programmes. They use psychological and practical methods to deal with managing your pain and the effect it has on your life. Programmes usually run for a set amount of time over a number of weeks. Doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists may be involved. For example, a physiotherapist might help you work on physical difficulties the pain causes by strengthening your muscles. A psychologist might help you manage the emotional effects pain can have, such as depression and frustration.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

TENS treatment uses electrical impulses to reduce some types of pain, such as musculoskeletal pain. Sticky pads are attached to your skin and linked to electrodes, which are attached to a battery-operated machine. Electrical impulses are then sent through the electrodes onto your skin. These impulses can help to block the pain signals from travelling along the nerve pathways to your brain. At a low frequency, TENS may help your body to release natural painkillers called endorphins.  

There is not enough evidence to say definitively whether TENS is an effective and reliable way of reducing pain. It may provide temporary pain relief with no side effects, other than possible skin redness. You should ask your doctor before using it if you have a heart pacemaker or other type of electrical or metal implant in your body. It may not be suitable early in pregnancy, or for people with epilepsy, heart problems or an overactive bladder.  

Complementary therapies

Although there is limited evidence on using complementary therapies after stroke, it’s possible that massage or acupuncture and relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga may be helpful.