Neuropathic Pain
IASP Definition
Neuropathic pain is a clinical description
(and not a diagnosis)
which requires
a demonstrable lesion
or a disease that satisfies
established
neurological diagnostic criteria.
The term lesion is commonly used
when diagnostic investigations
(e.g. imaging, neurophysiology, biopsies, lab tests)
reveal an abnormality
or
when there was obvious trauma.
The term disease is commonly used
when the underlying cause
of the lesion is known
(e.g. stroke, vasculitis,
diabetes mellitus,
genetic abnormality)
Neuropathic pain:
Pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system