Neuropathic pain is believed to be caused by changes in the nervous system
that sustain pain even after an injury heals. In most cases, the injury
that starts the pain involves the peripheral nerves or the central nervous
system itself. It can be associated with trauma or with many different
types of diseases, such as diabetes. There are many neuropathic pain syndromes,
such as diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia
(“shingles”), post-stroke pain, and complex regional pain
syndromes (also called reflex sympathetic dystrophy or “RSD”
and causalgia). Some patients who get neuropathic pain describe it as
bizarre, unfamiliar pain, which may be burning or like electricity. The
pain may be associated with sensitivity of the skin.
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