Cause: Damage to or disease affecting the peripheral or central nervous system.
Mechanism: Damaged nerves send abnormal pain signals, even in the absence of a painful stimulus.
Pain characteristics: Burning, stinging, stabbing pain, tingling, numbness, and electric shock-like sensations.
Examples: Postherpetic neuralgia, painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy, post-stroke pain, diabetic polyneuropathy, and sciatica.
Treatment: Antiepileptic medications (gabapentin, pregabalin), antidepressants (duloxetine, amitriptyline), sometimes nerve blocks, and physiotherapy.
Psychosomatic Pain
Cause: Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, or depression that intensify or trigger real physical pain.
Mechanism: The body responds physically to psychological distress, for example through muscle tension, gastrointestinal disturbances, or headaches.
Pain characteristics: Highly variable, ranging from headaches, abdominal pain, and back pain to muscle pain. In many cases, no clear cause can be identified during diagnostic testing.
Examples: Tension-type headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and neck pain associated with chronic stress.
Treatment: Psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders, and pharmacological support when needed.
This content is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.