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The sympathetic system and pain.

P W Nathan1

  • 1National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London, UK.

Functional Neurology
|January 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sympathetically maintained pain is not solely caused by the sympathetic system. Blocking sympathetic nerves can alleviate extreme sensitivity, suggesting a broader nervous system abnormality.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pain Management
  • Autonomic Nervous System

Background:

  • The term "sympathetically maintained pain" is often misunderstood, implying direct causation by the sympathetic system.
  • Current understanding does not fully explain the mechanisms behind this type of pain, particularly concerning hypersensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the sympathetic system in sympathetically maintained pain.
  • To clarify the underlying mechanisms of hyperpathia in this condition.

Main Methods:

  • Blocking sympathetic nerve supply to affected areas.
  • Observing the effects of sympathetic blockade on pain and hypersensitivity.
  • Analyzing the transmission of abnormal pain signals within the nervous system.

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Main Results:

  • Extreme sensitivity and hyperpathia were alleviated by blocking sympathetic supply.
  • This relief occurred even when the nervous system lesion was central to the blockade.
  • The findings indicate pain signal transmission across synapses, both centrally and peripherally.

Conclusions:

  • Sympathetically maintained pain is not exclusively due to sympathetic system dysfunction.
  • Hyperpathia represents a generalized nervous system abnormality, not solely sympathetic.
  • Relief can be achieved by targeting sympathetic nerves innervating peripheral neurons.