36 Pain (Neuropathic Pain Mechanisms)

Question 1

What is neuropathic pain?

Answer 1

pain caused by damage, disease or dysfunction in the somatosensory nervous system

Question 2

what is the connection between neuroplasticity and neuropathic pain?

Answer 2

neuroplasticity causes body to hardwire an increased pain response, generating neuropathic pain

Question 3

what are the peripheral mechanisms of neuropathic pain?

Answer 3

peripheral sensitization: heightened sensitivity in peripheral nociceptors, and spontaneous pathological activity in nociceptors

collateral sprouting in peripheral tissues

Question 4

what are the central mechanisms of neuropathic pain?

Answer 4

central sensitization: heightened sensitivity of dorsal horn neurons contributing to the STT (spinothalamic tract)

sympathetic coupling at the dorsal root ganglion: coupling of dorsal root ganglion (afferent) and sympathetic fibres. means that sympathetic fibres can be stimulated by stress response, and pain will be worsened by stress

Question 5

what is the STT?

Answer 5

spinothalamic tract - major ascending nociceptive pathway

arises from neurons in the dorsal horn