neuropathic pain

neuropathic pain

pain that results from direct stimulation of the myelin or nervous tissue of the peripheral or central nervous system (except for sensitized C fibers), generally felt as burning or tingling and often occurring in an area of sensory loss. It is seen commonly in patients with uncontrolled diabetes.

neuropathic pain

Pain that originates in peripheral nerves or the central nervous system rather than in other damaged organs or tissues. A hallmark of neuropathic pain is its localization to specific dermatomes or nerve distributions. Some examples of neuropathic pain are the pain of shingles (herpes zoster), diabetic neuropathy, radiculopathy, and phantom limb pain.

Treatment

Drugs like gabapentin or pregabalin provide effective relief of neuropathic pain for some patients. Other treatments include (but are not limited to) regional nerve blocks, selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, psychological counseling, acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and physical therapy.

See also: pain

neuropathic pain

constant or spasmodic pain (e.g. shooting, burning, electrical, irritant, compressive, paraesthetic or scalding pain); pain occurs spontaneously or in response to non-noxious stimuli (allodynia); characteristic of nerve trauma, diabetic painful peripheral neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome, compression neuropathies, postherpetic neuralgia; symptoms are managed by antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs (e.g. gabapentin), nerve blocks, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS); patients may require referral to multidisciplinary pain clinics