Open AccessNeuropathic Pain and its Management
Author(s) -
Quamruddin Ahmad,
MA Ali,
M Kafiluddin,
MM Hoque Chowdhury
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
taj
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2408-8854
pISSN - 1019-8555
DOI - 10.3329/taj.v22i2.37750
Subject(s) - neuropathic pain , medicine , allodynia , hyperalgesia , quality of life (healthcare) , population , disease , pain management , intensive care medicine , physical therapy , anesthesia , nociception , receptor , nursing , environmental health
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