Pathophysiologie des neuropathischen schmerzes - Optimale behandlungsstrategien anhand der pathophysiologischen mechanismen

Neuropathic pain syndromes are clinically characterized by spontaneous pain (ongoing, paroxysms) and evoked pain (hyperalgesia, allodynia). Neuropathic pain syndromes develop after lesion or disease of the peripheral or the central nervous system. Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms take place on different levels of the nociceptive pathways. Therapy often remains unsatisfactory with a need for optimized treatment-strategies. It is suggested that clinical symptoms and signs reflect the underlying pain mechanisms. Therefore, understanding pathopysiology is essential and may lead to a mechanism-based treatment approach. This means an optimized treatment-strategy for each patient, according to what mechanisms are at play in the individual case.