Anyone else have this or neuropathic pain from a stroke? How do you manage the pain? I've been in agony for more than a year, I've maxed out my tricyclic antidepressants, take opiates, and nothing really helps. The tricyclics are more effective than opiates but only help so much. This happened to me at 27 years old. The neurologist wants to kick me off to a pain specialist. Are they familiar with rare pain disorders?

Thanks.

--even pain specialists, would have heard of thalamic or central pain syndromes. That is because most of them are trained in relieving pain caused by neuromuscular or other mechanical problems are are not as familiar with the peculiar dysesthetic pain caused by damage to nerves themselves.

You should at least go to the doctors armed with info--and you can start at www.centralpain.org, which is a very comprehensive site that explains this condition and has links to a lot of the medical literature about it.

A month ago I had a stroke in the Thalamus right side of the brain, and I have the burning pins and needles pain on the left side. I am on several medications and hoping they will help. I lucked out with a great Neuro who believes me and is trying to get me back to a semi normal life. My husband and family are trying to be understanding but they don't get it. I flinch and cry when anyone touches me on that side. I don't sleep much because of the pain. The meds have made me lose my appetite. I am used to working 60 hours a week so this hard not working at all. I watch tv and read trying to keep my mind off the pain. What do you do?

Thanks,
Lisa