Treatment evaluation of shoulder chronic pain of hemiplegic patients combining transcranial electrostimulation, C7 nerve root block,supraspinal nerve block and functional electrostimulation

• Grant number: 11/20874-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Raymundo Soares de Azevedo Neto
• Grantee: Camila Reiko Lacerda Arakaki
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Shoulder pain is the most common complication of hemiplegia of stroke (CVA), affecting nearly three-quarters of patients within twelve months after stroke. It is a marker of severity and limiting factor for functional recovery of the upper limb. Although treatments for this condition have been widely studied, they fail to prove clinical efficacy. The current best approach for the hemiplegic shoulder pain is prevention.Our main hypothesis is that in order to properly treat this complex disease we must cover all aspects of its pathological presentation. When present, central (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral (peripheral nerves and muscles) sensitizations should be completely treated. To test this hypothesis, we developed a treatment protocol consisting of combined techniques of central (transcranial electrical stimulation and C7 nerve root block) and peripheral (suprascapular nerve block and functional electro stimulation) pain management. (AU)