CENTRAL PAIN SYNDROME

Course overview

CENTRAL SENSITIZATION OF PAIN OCCURS WHEN THE PATIENT'S NERVOUS SYSTEM IS PERSISTENTLY IN A HIGH-ACTIVITY STATE. THIS STATE DECREASES SENSITIVITY TO FIRE ACTION POTENTIALS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THOUGH THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM PROVIDES LIMITED INPUT, THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM RESPONDS AS IF THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PAINFUL STIMULI. CENTRAL PAIN SYNDROME IS ALSO KNOWN AS CENTRALIZED PAIN, CENTRAL PAIN, CENTRAL SENSITIZATION, AND WIDESPREAD OR DIFFUSE PAIN. IT IS RELATIVELY COMMON AND HAS GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES PREDISPOSING PATIENTS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF CENTRAL PAIN SYNDROME AND HIGHLIGHTS THE HEALTHCARE TEAM'S ROLE IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.