Neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain in the direct sense can be differentiated in two major forms: superficial, dysesthetic pain (e.g. burning-feet-syndrome in case of diabetic neuropathy) and deep nerve trunk pain (e.g. nerve root pain in case of slipped disk). An intensified excitation of damaged or abnormally excitable nociceptive afferences is said to cause dysesthetic pain. A variety of different mechanisms is said to be responsible for nerve trunk pain. There is not a correlation between the activity of sprouting fibres and pain intensity. In the different polyneuropathies different clinical features of pain occur. Treatment depends above all on the cause of the diseases. Symptomatic relief of pain can be achieved with some centrally and peripherally effective analgesic drugs.