PAIN-CLASSIFICATION, NEUROPATHIC

SUMMARY

1. Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system.

2. It is a clinical description, not a diagnosis; characterised by burning/shooting/electrical pain assoc. with hyperalgesia & allodynia.

3. It requires a demonstrable lesion or a disease that satisfies established neurological diagnostic criteria.

4. Peripheral (e.g. neuropathy) vs. central (e.g. stroke, MS).

5. Less responsive to conventional analgesia, adjuvant analgesics are often used.

6. Examples: stroke, MS, vasculitis, diabetes mellitus, genetic abnormality, trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia.

7. Screening tools: DN4, PainDETECT.

Reference(s)

Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.