Presse Med
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Neuropathic pain poses a significant challenge due to its complex mechanisms, necessitating specific treatments. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in the clinical research of neuropathic pain, marking a shift from empirical strategies to evidence-based medicine in its management. This review outlines both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. ⋯ These approaches target peripheral or central mechanisms associated with neuropathic pain. Noninvasive neurostimulation, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), provides non-pharmacological alternatives. However, challenges persist in effectively targeting existing medications and developing drugs that act on novel targets, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Neuropathic pain, defined as pain arising as a consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory nervous system, requires precise diagnostic assessment. Different diagnostic tools have been devised for the diagnosis of neuropathic pain. This review offers insights into the diagnostic accuracy of screening questionnaires and different tests that investigate the somatosensory nervous system, in patients with suspected neuropathic pain. Thus, it illustrates how these tools can aid clinicians in accurately diagnosing neuropathic pain.