29/10/2025
🧠💪 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 — 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐭 !
👩🦽Patient: “Doctor, after my stroke, my shoulder and other joints have started hurting. Why is this happening? And what can I do about it?”
👨⚕️Doctor: That’s a very common and important question. After a stroke, many people get pain in the shoulder, wrist, or knee — especially on the weaker side. Let’s understand why it happens and what can help.
1️⃣ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞?
A. Weak or imbalanced muscles
After a stroke, one side of the body becomes weak or tight.
The muscles can’t hold the joint in proper alignment, so the joint may partially slip (shoulder subluxation) or get strained — leading to pain.
B. Wrong handling or movement
Pulling or lifting the weak arm suddenly can injure the soft tissues or the shoulder capsule.
That’s why caregivers need proper guidance for transfers and dressing.
C. Muscle stiffness (Spasticity)
Some muscles become too tight after stroke.
This constant pull causes joint pain, deformity, and reduced movement.
👉 Example: Tight finger flexors → painful clenched hand.
D. Frozen Shoulder
When the shoulder isn’t moved for long, the capsule around the joint becomes tight and sticky — known as frozen shoulder.
It causes dull, deep pain and loss of motion.
E. Nerve-related pain (Central Post-Stroke Pain)
If the brain’s sensory area (like the thalamus) is affected, it may create a burning, tingling, or “electric” pain — even when there’s no injury.
This pain is from nerve damage, not the joint itself.
F. Overuse of the stronger side
The non-paralyzed side often does all the work — leading to shoulder, elbow, or knee pain due to overuse.
2️⃣ 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 — 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧
✅ A. Physiotherapy & Positioning
• Gentle range-of-motion exercises to prevent stiffness
• Proper shoulder support (sling or armrest)
• Avoid pulling on the weak arm
• Regular movement and stretching of tight muscles
• Correct sitting and sleeping posture
✅ B. Medications
1. For joint and muscle pain:
• Paracetamol
• Topical gels or sprays for local relief
2. For spasticity (tight muscles):
• Baclofen, Tizanidine, or Diazepam – help relax tight muscles (always under doctor supervision)
• Botulinum toxin injections (Botox) – for severe localized spasticity
3. For nerve-related (central) pain:
• Gabapentin or Pregabalin – reduce nerve pain and burning sensation
• Amitriptyline or Duloxetine – help both nerve pain and mood
• Sometimes low-dose opioids (like Tramadol) are used for short-term severe pain
4. For frozen shoulder or joint inflammation:
• Steroid injections into the shoulder joint or around tendons (if indicated)
• Hyaluronic acid injections for lubrication in stiff or degenerative joints
(Note: All medicines must be prescribed by a doctor — dose and combination vary by patient condition and other medical issues.)
✅ C. Physical Therapy Modalities
• Hot packs / infrared therapy – relax tight muscles
• Ultrasound therapy – reduce deep tissue pain
• TENS (nerve stimulation) – helps in both nerve and joint pain
• Hydrotherapy – gentle movement in warm water
✅ D. Lifestyle & Home Care
• Keep the weak arm supported while sitting
• Do regular stretching even if minimal
• Watch out for hand swelling — report it early
• Balanced diet with protein, calcium, and Vitamin D3
🌟 Key Takeaway
Post-stroke pain isn’t “normal.”
It’s a treatable complication — and managing it early means faster recovery, better mood, and more independence.