Treatment of Post-Stroke Central Pain

Efficacy and Safety of Short-Term Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined With Pharmacotherapy for Central Post-Stroke Pain: A Single-Center, Randomized, Controlled Trial

To evaluate the short-term analgesic efficacy of stSCS combined with pharmacotherapy compared with pharmacotherapy alone in patients with CPSP, measured by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score immediately after treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of central post-stroke pain (CPSP) according to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) criteria
• Clear history of stroke confirmed by cranial CT or MRI
• Pain occurring after stroke and distributed in body parts corresponding to central nervous system injury
• Pain with neuropathic characteristics (e.g., burning sensation, electric shock sensation, needle prick sensation)
• Pain not explained by other causes
• Age ≥ 18 years
• Pain duration ≥ 3 months
• Baseline pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥ 4 points
• Complete clinical data with follow-up time ≥ 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of chronic pain before stroke
• Severe cognitive impairment that prevents cooperation with pain assessment (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE < 15 points)
• Contraindications to spinal cord stimulation (SCS), such as coagulation disorders, active infections, or mental diseases that prevent cooperation
• Malignant tumors or other severe organic diseases with expected survival < 1 year