What is neuropathic pain?

Damage to the nervous system’s pain pathways can cause neuropathic pain, which is typically perceived as an unusual burning or tingling sensation - dysesthesia. It may be triggered by a very light touch - allodynia. It may cause heightened sensitivity to pain stimuli - hyperalgesia, or an exaggerated response to pain - hyperpathia.

Neuropathic pain is often severe and difficult to treat. There are two types of neuropathic pain - peripheral and central.

Peripheral neuropathic pain that can develop in diabetes, nerve compression injuries, or alcoholism involves damage to multiple nerves. Peripheral neuropathic pain in conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, on the other hand, involves damage to a single nerve.

Central neuropathic pain includes pain due to interruption of afferent nerve activity. Examples include pain after CNS injury or phantom pain felt in the region of an amputated body part.

Review Date:6/13/2024
Reviewed By:Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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