Central Pain Syndrome
Central Pain Syndrome
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Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Central Pain Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Summary
Central pain syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by damage to the central nervous system (CNS). Common symptoms include pain and loss of sensation, usually in the face, arms and/or legs. Pain is often constant and can be mild, moderate, or severe in intensity. Affected individuals may become hypersensitive to painful stimuli. The specific type of pain experience can vary from one individual to another based, in part, upon the underlying cause of the disorder and the area of the central nervous system affected. Central pain syndrome can potentially disrupt an individual's daily routine. In severe cases, the pain can be agonizing and unrelenting and dramatically affect a person's quality of life. Central pain syndrome can develop following a variety of conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or brain tumors.
Introduction
For years, it was believed that the majority of cases of central pain syndrome were due to damage of the thalamus most often caused by a stroke. The disorder was frequently referred to as thalamic pain syndrome or Dejerine-Roussy syndrome after two French neurologists who reported on the disorder in the early 1900s. In fact, to some degree central pain became synonymous with thalamic pain syndrome for many years. However, researchers now know that damage to other areas of the CNS can cause central pain syndrome, including cases following a stroke. Consequently, the preferred name for this group of disorders is central pain syndrome to acknowledge that damage to various areas of the CNS (and not predominantly the thalamus) can cause central pain and that a stroke is not necessarily the primary cause. The preferred term for the specific subtype of central pain syndrome caused by CNS damage due to a stroke is central post-stroke pain.
American Chronic Pain Association
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
USA
Tel: (916)632-0922
Fax: (916)652-8190
Tel: (800)533-3231
Email: ACPA@theacpa.org
Internet: http://www.theacpa.org
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
American Pain Society
4700 West Lake Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Tel: (847)375-4715
Fax: (866)574-2654
Email: info@ampainsoc.org
Internet: http://www.ampainsoc.org
Pain.com
c/o Dannemiller, Inc.
5711 Northwest Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78246
Tel: (210)641-8311
Fax: (210)641-8329
Email: editor@pain.com
Internet: http://www.pain.com
International Association for the Study of Pain
IASP Secretariat
1510 H Street NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005-1020
Tel: (202)524-5300
Fax: (202)524-5301
Email: IASPdesk@iasp-pain.org
Internet: http://www.iasp-pain.org
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
Irish Chronic Pain Association
Coleraine House, Coleraine St.
Dublin, 7
Ireland
Tel: 35318047567
Fax: 35318047567
Email: info@chronicpain.ie
Internet: http://www.chronicpain.ie
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 6/21/2012
Copyright 1990, 2003, 2012 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
A
A
A
Central Pain Syndrome
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Central Pain Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- CPS
Disorder Subdivisions
- central post-stroke pain
- central post-stroke syndrome
- Dejerine-Roussy syndrome (obsolete)
- thalamic pain syndrome (obsolete)
- thalamic syndrome (obsolete)
General Discussion
Summary
Central pain syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by damage to the central nervous system (CNS). Common symptoms include pain and loss of sensation, usually in the face, arms and/or legs. Pain is often constant and can be mild, moderate, or severe in intensity. Affected individuals may become hypersensitive to painful stimuli. The specific type of pain experience can vary from one individual to another based, in part, upon the underlying cause of the disorder and the area of the central nervous system affected. Central pain syndrome can potentially disrupt an individual's daily routine. In severe cases, the pain can be agonizing and unrelenting and dramatically affect a person's quality of life. Central pain syndrome can develop following a variety of conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or brain tumors.
Introduction
For years, it was believed that the majority of cases of central pain syndrome were due to damage of the thalamus most often caused by a stroke. The disorder was frequently referred to as thalamic pain syndrome or Dejerine-Roussy syndrome after two French neurologists who reported on the disorder in the early 1900s. In fact, to some degree central pain became synonymous with thalamic pain syndrome for many years. However, researchers now know that damage to other areas of the CNS can cause central pain syndrome, including cases following a stroke. Consequently, the preferred name for this group of disorders is central pain syndrome to acknowledge that damage to various areas of the CNS (and not predominantly the thalamus) can cause central pain and that a stroke is not necessarily the primary cause. The preferred term for the specific subtype of central pain syndrome caused by CNS damage due to a stroke is central post-stroke pain.
Resources
American Chronic Pain Association
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677
USA
Tel: (916)632-0922
Fax: (916)652-8190
Tel: (800)533-3231
Email: ACPA@theacpa.org
Internet: http://www.theacpa.org
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
TDD: (301)468-5981
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
American Pain Society
4700 West Lake Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Tel: (847)375-4715
Fax: (866)574-2654
Email: info@ampainsoc.org
Internet: http://www.ampainsoc.org
Pain.com
c/o Dannemiller, Inc.
5711 Northwest Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78246
Tel: (210)641-8311
Fax: (210)641-8329
Email: editor@pain.com
Internet: http://www.pain.com
International Association for the Study of Pain
IASP Secretariat
1510 H Street NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005-1020
Tel: (202)524-5300
Fax: (202)524-5301
Email: IASPdesk@iasp-pain.org
Internet: http://www.iasp-pain.org
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
Irish Chronic Pain Association
Coleraine House, Coleraine St.
Dublin, 7
Ireland
Tel: 35318047567
Fax: 35318047567
Email: info@chronicpain.ie
Internet: http://www.chronicpain.ie
For a Complete Report:
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 6/21/2012
Copyright 1990, 2003, 2012 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
