Indicators of central sensitization in chronic neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Central sensitization is considered a key mechanism underlying neuropathic pain (NP) after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods

Two novel proxies for central sensitization were investigated in thoracic SCI subjects with (SCI-NP) and without NP (SCI-nonNP) compared to healthy controls (HC). Specifically, temporal summation of pain (TSP) was investigated by examining pain ratings during a 2-min tonic heat application to the volar forearm. Additionally, palmar heat-induced sympathetic skin responses (SSR) were recorded in order to reveal changes in pain-autonomic interaction above the lesion level. Pain extent was assessed as the percentage of the body area and the number of body regions being affected by NP.

Results

Enhanced TSP was observed in SCI-NP (+66%) com

SUBMITTER: Lutolf R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9826442 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature