[Nociplastic pain in Primary Care: What should we know?]

Nociplastic pain, third mechanistic pain descriptor, was adopted in 2017 by the International Association for the Study of Pain. It is defined as «pain that arises from altered nociception» not fully explained by nociceptive or neuropathic pain mechanisms. Peripheral and/or central sensitization, manifesting as allodynia and hyperalgesia, is typically present, although not specific for nociplastic pain. Understanding pathophysiological mechanisms and their interactions is a requisite for the development of diagnostic tests allowing for individualized treatments and development of new strategies for prevention and treatment. This narrative review summarizes the most important aspects of nociplastic pain in the Primary Care setting and emphasizes the importance of recognizing this type of pain in clinical practice.