Combination of pregabalin and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for neuropathic pain in a stroke patient after contralateral C7 nerve transfer: a case report

Abstract

Background

Contralateral C7 nerve transfer is a new surgical treatment for stroke patients with unilateral upper extremity paralysis, but neuropathic pain in the nonparalyzed side is the common complication after surgery. We report a stroke patient with neuropathic pain after C7 nerve transfer who received combination treatment of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and pregabalin.

Case Summary

A 53-year old, 6 months post-stroke patient with right hemiplegia after contralateral C7 nerve transfer was admitted in our department with a significant neuropathic pain in his left upper extremity. The treatment of pregabalin and TENS were used for patient. The visual analogue scale(VAS), medical outcomes study sleep scale(MOS-SS) and hospital anxiety and depression scale(HADS) were assessed after 1 months treatment. After treatment, the pain of his nonparalyzed upper extremity was relieved, the sleeping quality and the anxiety and depression were improved in patient.

Conclusion

This report suggests that the combination of pregabalin and TENS have prominent clinical effects on neuropathic pain of nonparalyzed side in stroke patients after contralateral C7 nerve transfer.

Keywords:

• Contralateral C7 nerve transfer
• pregabalin
• TENS
• neuropathic pain

Acknowledgments

We thank the Neurosurgery Department of Nanjing First Hospital for clinical support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author’ contribution

PX wrote the manuscript. XW's and YS's contributions included data acquisition. KC, TY and LX followed the patient for treatment. XL revised the manuscript.