Abstract
Chronic pain has been categorized as: nociceptive (somatic vs. visceral) and neuropathic (central vs. peripheral). Nociceptive pain is due to activation and continuous signaling from peripheral nociceptors. Neuropathic pain is initiated or caused by a primary lesion of the somatosensory system, from peripheral or central sources. This categorization of nociceptive versus neuropathic pain led to specific treatments for each type. Over time, it was recognized clinically that these concepts often overlapped and coexist in many patients with longstanding conditions. This led to a category of mixed pain. Studies in the past decade have demonstrated analgesic efficacy for medications generally considered for neuropathic pain in surgical models, presumed to be primarily examples of nociceptive pain.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences |
Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
Pages | 749-752 |
Number of pages | 4 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780123851574 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780123851581 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adjuvants
- Anticonvulsants
- Antidepressants
- Central pain
- Neurolytic
- Neuromodulation
- Neuropathic
- Nociceptive
- Peripheral nerve stimulation
- Peripheral pain
- Somatic pain
- Spinal cord stimulator
- Visceral pain
- Windup
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine