Neuropathic Pain and its Management

Abstract

Pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system is defined as neuropathic pain. It is common in clinical practice affecting 6-8% of the general population causing considerable suffering and substantial reduction in the patients' health­related quality of life. Quality of the pain is often difficult to characterize but burning, tingling, lancinating, pricking terms are often used by patients to describe their pain. The response to stimulus is also altered causing allodynia, hyperalgesia and hyperpathia. Treatment is difficult with current therapies resulting in 30 to 50% reduction. Treatment aims to reduce suffering and disability with the reassurance that is rarely a life threatening condition.  The review describes the evidence-based pharmacologic treatment options available for the management of neuropathic pain.

TAJ 2009; 22(1): 302-310