Who Gets Central Pain?
Central pain isn't a condition that comes by itself. Central pain
can result as a consequence of a number of other conditions. Most people
suffering from neuropathic pain from the central nervous system from these various
conditions have no idea that their most distressing symptom,
intractable
central pain, is shared by people with such a wide range of other
health
conditions.
The main criteria required for central pain is damage to sensory nerve
cells
in the central nervous system anywhere from the thalamus down through
the
spinal cord. There is new research that indicates central pain might
even
result from injury to parts of the brain besides the thalamus.
Some conditions may damage motor nerve cells in the cord, such as ALS
(Lou
Gehrig's disease), but they are not likely to result in central pain
unless
the disease follows unusual course and eventually involves sensory
nerve
cells. I should mention that, at least in some cases, it may be
challenging
for a doctor to definitively diagnose whether nerve pain is the result
of
central pain or peripheral neuropathy. There are some differences in
how a doctor deals with central pain versus the various types of peripheral
neuropathy.
Keep in mind that central pain is not the only type of pain that may
be
associated with any health condition. Only a qualified doctor can
diagnose
central pain.
Some of the more common causes of central pain are:
* Stroke (generally involving the thalamus to some extent)
* Multiple sclerosis
* Cancer (when it damages CNS sensory nerve cells or the
thalamus)
* Spinal cord injury
* Physical trauma (such as surgery, gunshot, falls,
vehicle accidents, etc.)
There are many other conditions that may result in central pain. This
is not
meant to be an exhaustive list, but I will add more conditions as I
track
them down.
Of course there are additional conditions that can result in central
pain if
they affect a susceptible part of the central nervous system. This is
certainly not an exhaustive list, but I will add conditions as I track
them
down. For the reader's convenience, this list is in alphabetic order.
* AIDS, especially end-stage
* Aneurysm
* Arachnoiditis
* Arteriovenous malformation
* Cauda equina syndrome
* Cervical myelopathy
* Chemical toxicity
* Cluster headaches (some think this might be a form of
central pain)
* Gunshot wounds
* Infection (bacterial or viral)
* Lead neuropathy
* Meralgia paresthetica
* Mercury toxicity
* Myelomalacia
* Neurofibromatosis
* Posterior myelitis
* Post-polio syndrome
* Radiation exposure
* Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome
* Spinal cord infarction
* Stroke
* Surgery (see "Trauma" section below)
* Syringomyelia
* Tethered cord syndrome
* Transverse myelitis
* Vascular malformation
* Vitamin B-12 deficiency
* Any condition that causes nerve demyelination or other
nerve or brain
damage.
These are the common names for these conditions in the United States.
Please
drop me a note if you are aware of other names for any of these
conditions.
Also, if you are aware of any other conditions that may result in
central
pain, please let me know.
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Disclaimer:
All material from PainOnline is strictly the opinion of the authors of
the
material on this Web site. PainOnline does not attempt to offer
medical
advice. If you have concerns about your health, please see a qualified
health
care provider.
Copyright © 2001 by David Berg
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Dejerine-Roussy Syndrome
