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[Pain and pain therapy - neurophysiologic view].
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift
|December 12, 1981
Summary
Pain originates from nociceptor excitation, influenced by nerve activity and reflexes. Central nervous system pathways modulate pain perception, offering therapeutic targets for analgesia through various stimulation and pharmacological methods.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Peripheral and Central Nervous System
Context:
- Pain perception is initiated by nociceptor excitation, modulated by endogenous substances and hormones.
- Nerve injury and regeneration increase nerve fiber excitability, contributing to chronic pain states.
- Motor and sympathetic reflexes can exacerbate nociceptor activity, forming positive feedback loops in pain.
Purpose:
- To elucidate the peripheral and central mechanisms of pain generation and modulation.
- To highlight the importance of diagnosing peripheral influences on nociceptor excitation for targeted therapy.
- To explore the central nervous system's role in modulating pain perception and behavior.
Summary:
- Pain arises from nociceptor excitation, which is influenced by local factors and nerve fiber activity.
- The central nervous system lacks a single pain center, instead relying on complex interactions between brain systems.
- Pain signals are modulated within the central nervous system, with inhibitory pathways offering therapeutic potential.
Impact:
- Accurate diagnosis of peripheral pain mechanisms is crucial for effective therapeutic intervention.
- Understanding central pain modulation reveals opportunities for novel pain management strategies.
- Inhibitory pain systems, involving brainstem stimulation, neurotransmitters like serotonin and opioids, and psychological factors, can be therapeutically activated.