Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain state that usually is accompanied by tissue injury. With neuropathic pain, the nerve fibers themselves may be damaged, dysfunctional or injured.

Pain can develop after injury to any level of the nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system may be involved. Nerve pain is often puzzling and frustrating for people as it seems to respond poorly to standard pain therapies.

Neuropathic pain, is chronic pain in which the nerve fibers themselves have become damaged. Neuropathic pain results from damage or dysfunction of the peripheral or central nervous system.

Neuropathic pain tends to be sharp or aching. It also tends to be eased well by traditional painkillers such as paracetamol, anti-inflammatory painkillers, codeine and morphine.

Neuropathic pain is the result of an injury or malfunction in the peripheral or central nervous system. The pain is often triggered by an injury, but this injury may or may not involve actual damage to the nervous system. Nerves can be infiltrated or compressed by tumors, strangulated by scar tissue, or inflamed by infection. The pain frequently has burning, lancinating, or electric shock qualities. Persistent allodynia, pain resulting from a non painful stimulus such as a light touch, is also a common characteristic of neuropathic pain. The pain may persist for months or years beyond the apparent healing of any damaged tissues. In this setting, pain signals no longer represent an alarm about ongoing or impending injury, instead the alarm system itself is malfunctioning.

Neuropathic pain is frequently chronic, and tends to have a less robust response to treatment with opioids, but may respond well to other drugs such as anti-seizure and antidepressant medications. Usually, neuropathic problems are not fully reversible, but partial improvement is often possible with proper treatment.