Neuropathic Pain – What Is It
Posted by Pierce Jonsson in Pain Fighting TipsAbout 20% of cases of chronic pain refers to neuropathic pain, which reduces the quality of life, ability to work, the possibility of the social adaptation and in many cases is difficult to treat. This indicates about high social and economic importance of diagnosis of health problems and treatment of neuropathic pain. According to the modern pathophysiological classification of pain syndromes based on the separation of the main formation mechanism of pain, neuropathic pain is caused by damage or dysfunction of the primary structures of the peripheral or central nervous systems, which conduct pain signals.
Thus, pain may be associated with damage or dysfunction of the nervous system at the level of the peripheral nerves and dorsal roots , or spinal cord and brain. Search show that in various countries neuropathic pain occurs in 6-8% of the population. Risk factors for neuropathic pain are chronic pain syndromes, as well as female gender, old age of patients and the low level of social status. Neuropathic pain is associated with a greater intensity of pain and frequent use of medical care, caused by a wide range of injuries, diseases and dysfunctions of the peripheral and central nervous system, of which the most famous and widely spread pain are diabetic polyneuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia.
Signs of neuropathic pain can be treated on the basis of current understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of its development. Can be used pharmacological effects to reduce the peripheral affect supporting the change in excitability of nociceptive structures of spinal cord and brain, drugs that reduce the excitability of nociceptive neurons, and drugs that increase supraspinal descending inhibitory antinociceptive effec. In severe cases, the introduction of pharmacological treatments used close to the central receptors.
The introduction of local anesthetics reduces symptoms of neuropathic pain, especially in cases where its development is primarily due to pathological changes of the peripheral nerves. The most widely used of all the local anesthetics is lidocaine, which has an inhibitory effect on sodium channels. Application of 5% lidocaine has minimal effect on other structures and has almost no possible systemic side effects. It is proved that tricyclic antidepressants can reduce the severity of neuropathic pain or remove it, mo matter of their antidepressant effect.
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