Neuropathic Pain and Treatment

Abstract

Neuropathic pain is a form of chronic pain caused by injury to or disease of peripheral or central nervous system. in contrast to nociceptive pain, which results from the activation of pain receptors, neuropathic pain is the result of injury to the pain-conducting nervous system. Examples of neuropathic pain syndromes include postherpetic neuralgia, painful diabetic neuropayhy, the complex regional pain syndrome and the central poststroke pain syndrome. Neuropathic pain is typically severe, slow to resolve, and extremely distressing. Like other forms of chronic pain, it can have a devastating impact on patients' psychological health, social functioning, and other aspects of health related quality of life. Neuropathic pain responds poorly to traditional therapeutic approaches and to standart doses of analgesics such as non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and opioids. Tricylic antidepressants and anticonvulsants are the main therapeutic agents in the treatment of painful neuropathies.