Neuropathic pain and stress: how are they linked?
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Time to read 2 min
Neuropathic pain and stress are two phenomena that can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life . Although these two conditions may seem distinct, recent research suggests that they may be closely related. This article explores the underlying mechanisms of this relationship, based on recent scientific research. We provide you with the PUBMED links that allow you to find all the articles at the end of the text.
Summary
Understanding Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is a form of chronic pain that results from injury or disease affecting the somatosensory system. It is often associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Patients with neuropathic pain may experience a variety of symptoms , including severe pain, increased sensitivity to pain, or pain in response to stimuli that are not normally painful, known as allodynia. Often these patients are also followed in pain centers , where management may be multidisciplinary and accompanied by paramedical care.
The somatosensory system is a complex network of sensory receptors and nerve pathways in the body that allow individuals to perceive different physical sensations. These sensations include pressure, temperature, pain, touch, and the perception of our body's position and movement. This information is collected by sensory receptors in the skin, muscles, joints, and is transmitted to the brain for interpretation. Thus, the somatosensory system plays a vital role in our interaction with our environment and in controlling our movements.
Stress and its impact on the nervous system
Stress is a biological response to perceived challenges or threats. It can have both beneficial and harmful effects on the body . In the context of neuropathic pain, stress can worsen pain by increasing inflammation and changing how the body perceives pain.
Additionally, chronic stress can also contribute to central sensitization, a phenomenon that makes the nervous system more reactive to pain. This phenomenon of central sensitization is also found as one of the mechanisms of migraine. Read the Migraine Guide if you want to learn more.
Link between neuropathic pain and stress
Recent research has begun to reveal how neuropathic pain and stress may be linked . One study showed that stress can increase pain sensitivity by altering the activity of neurons in the spinal cord . Additionally, stress can also increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines , which can contribute to neuropathic pain. Another study found that neuropathic pain itself can induce chronic stress , creating a vicious cycle. Researchers found that neuropathic pain can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which plays a key role in the stress response . This disruption can lead to increased chronic stress, which in turn can worsen neuropathic pain.
