Neuropathic Pain
Pain arising directly from a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system, characterised by burning, shooting, or electric-shock-like sensations.
Full Definition
Neuropathic pain is distinguished from nociceptive pain by its origin in damaged or dysfunctional neural tissue rather than tissue injury. In rehabilitation populations it occurs in conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, and complex regional pain syndrome. It is frequently described by patients as burning, allodynia (pain from normally non-painful stimuli), or hyperalgesia (exaggerated pain response). Editors should hyphenate 'neuropathic' only when it precedes a noun as part of a compound modifier, though the standalone term 'neuropathic pain' does not require a hyphen.
Usage
Usage note: The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) distinguishes 'neuropathic pain' from 'neurogenic pain'; these terms are not exact synonyms. Prefer 'neuropathic pain' in clinical and editorial contexts per IASP guidance.
In Context
- "The patient reported neuropathic pain below the level of injury, described as a constant burning sensation." — Spinal cord injury outpatient clinic note
- "Pregabalin was initiated for management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy." — Pharmacotherapy review document