What Do We Know about Nociplastic Pain?

Nociplastic pain is a recently distinguished type of pain, distinct from neuropathic and nociceptive pain, and is well described in the literature. It is often mistaken for central sensitization. Pathophysiology has not been clearly established with regard to alteration of the concentration of spina...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Healthcare (Basel) 2023-06, Vol.11 (12), p.1794
Main Authors: Bułdyś, Kacper, Górnicki, Tomasz, Kałka, Dariusz, Szuster, Ewa, Biernikiewicz, Małgorzata, Markuszewski, Leszek, Sobieszczańska, Małgorzata
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Care and treatment
Cerebrospinal fluid
Chronic pain
Clinical medicine
Comparative analysis
Development and progression
Diagnosis
Dopamine
Emotions
Fibromyalgia
Immune system
Irritable bowel syndrome
Medical diagnosis
Pain
Parkinson's disease
Pathophysiology
Review
Sleep
Spinal cord
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Summary:Nociplastic pain is a recently distinguished type of pain, distinct from neuropathic and nociceptive pain, and is well described in the literature. It is often mistaken for central sensitization. Pathophysiology has not been clearly established with regard to alteration of the concentration of spinal fluid elements, the structure of the white and gray matter of the brain, and psychological aspects. Many different diagnostic tools, i.e., the painDETECT and Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaires, have been developed to diagnose neuropathic pain, but they can also be applied for nociplastic pain; however, more standardized instruments are still needed in order to assess its occurrence and clinical presentation. Numerous studies have shown that nociplastic pain is present in many different diseases such as fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome type 1, and irritable bowel syndrome. Current pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments for nociceptive and neuropathic pain are not entirely suitable for treating nociplastic pain. There is an ongoing effort to establish the most efficient way to manage it. The significance of this field has led to several clinical trials being carried out in a short time. The aim of this narrative review was to discuss the currently available evidence on pathophysiology, associated diseases, treatment possibilities, and clinical trials. It is important that physicians widely discuss and acknowledge this relatively new concept in order to provide optimized pain control for patients.
ISSN:2227-9032
2227-9032
DOI:10.3390/healthcare11121794