Contralateral C7 nerve transfer is the latest management strategy for stroke patients with unilateral upper extremity paralysis. However, these patients may suffer neuropathic pain on the nonparalyzed side after surgery. 

A recent report on a stroke patient with neuropathic pain after C7 nerve transfer explains the benefit of combination treatment with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and Pregabalin.

A 53-year-old, six months post-stroke patient with right hemiplegia following contralateral C7 nerve transfer, who complained of significant neuropathic pain in his left upper extremity, received Pregabalin and TENS therapy. He was assessed with The visual analogue scale(VAS), medical outcomes study sleep scale(MOS-SS), and hospital anxiety and depression scale(HADS) after one month of treatment. The patient described relief from the pain of his nonparalyzed upper extremity, improvement in his sleeping quality, and anxiety and depression.

Thus, this report proves that the combination of Pregabalin and TENS can show prominent clinical effects on neuropathic pain (nonparalyzed side) in stroke patients receiving contralateral C7 nerve transfer.

International Journal of Neuroscience.2021;131(12):1248-1253. DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2020.1786687