J Korean Pain Soc.  2004 Dec;17(Suppl):S99-S103. 10.3344/kjp.2004.17.S.S99.

New Paradigm for the Neuropathic Pain

• Lee DI

• KMID: 2199661
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2004.17.S.S99

Abstract

According to the current International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) definition of neuropathic pain, these disorders are characterized by lesions or dysfunction of the nervous system that, under normal conditions, transmit noxious information to the central nervous system. Neuropathic pain can be divided into a disease with demonstrable neural lesions in the peripheral and central nervous system and conditions with no tangible lesion of major nerves. The differential diagnosis of painful neuropathies is traditionally based on the anatomical distribution and presumed etiology of the neuropathy, but more recently a symptom-based classification has been added. In theory, neuropathic pain should be easy to distinguish from other conditions, but in practice, are both difficult to identify and treat. The objective of this article was to review the problems relating to the classification and differential diagnosis of neuropathic pain for its better management.

Keyword

neuropathic pain

MeSH Terms

Central Nervous System
Classification
Diagnosis, Differential
Nervous System
Neuralgia*