Understanding Neuropathic Pain Section 2
Neuropathic pain arises from damage or dysfunction in the nervous system, leading to abnormal pain signals. Unlike acute pain, which serves as a warning signal for injury, neuropathic pain persists even after the initial injury has healed.
Various conditions can cause neuropathic pain, including: • Diabetic neuropathy: Nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels. • Postherpetic neuralgia: Persistent pain after shingles, a viral infection affecting the nerves. • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) A chronic pain condition affecting a limb, often after an injury. • Cancer pain: Pain caused by tumors pressing on nerves or by cancer treatments. • Post-surgical pain: Pain that persists after surgery, often due to nerve damage. • Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): Nerve damage caused by certain chemotherapy drugs. • Idiopathic peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy with no identi- fiable cause. This means that after extensive investigation, doctors cannot find a specific reason for the nerve damage. • Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS): Persistent or recurrent pain after back surgery. • Bone metastases pain: Pain caused by cancer spreading to the bones. • Phantom Limb Pain: Pain that persists in an arm or leg following amputation.
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