Importance and challenges of neuropathic pain

Abstract

Background: Pain is a complex and subjective symptom frequently encountered in many clinical fields. Acute pain is usually physiological, but chronic pain is a pathological condition that seriously affects the patients normal daily activities and quality of life. In addition, chronic pain has profoundly detrimental effects on their family and social relationship as well as a national healthcare system. Current Concepts: Neuropathic pain is accompanied by diverse neurological disorders in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neuropathic pain is also a type of chronic pain and has mechanisms unresolved completely yet. Despite recent advances in basic and clinical researches of neuropathic pain including an individualized therapy, the treatment has not been satisfactory. Another problem is the increasing prevalence of neuropathic pain because of the rapid increase of the elderly population as in the case of Korea. Discussion and Conclusion: The clinician should be aware of a clinical entity of neuropathic pain to make an accurate diagnosis and to treat the patients more effectively.