What is hyperpathia? Hyperpathia refers to a symptom in which nociceptive stimuli result in greater than expected or exaggerated levels of pain. The term hyperpathia also refers to an abnormally intense pain response to repetitive stimuli not sensitive to a simple stimulus, but over-responds to multiple stimuli. For example, a single pinprick may not be …
What is meant by neuralgia? Neuralgia is a clinically descriptive term, meaning intermittent pain in the distribution of a nerve or nerves. The condition described as “sciatica” may be due to the injury of the sciatic nerve, but is more commonly due to spinal nerve root compression (L5 or S1); pain is felt in the …
What is anesthesia dolorosa? Anesthesia dolorosa is a syndrome in which pain is felt in an area that is otherwise numb or desensitized. It commonly occurs after partial nerve lesions and may be a complication of radiofrequency coagulation of the trigeminal nerve. In a certain percentage of patients, the original trigeminal neuralgia pain is replaced …
What is formication? Formication is a form of paresthesia in which the patient feels as though bugs are crawling on his or her body.
What is hypoesthesia? Hypoesthesia is decreased sensitivity to stimulation. Essentially, it is an area of relative numbness and may be the consequence of any kind of nerve injury. Areas of hypoesthesia are often created intentionally (e.g., by local infiltrations of anesthetics).
What is a dysesthesia? A dysesthesia is a painful paresthesia. By definition, the sensation is unpleasant. Examples include the burning feet that may be felt in various peripheral neuropathies, or the spontaneous pain in certain types of diabetic neuropathy.
What is meant by paresthesia? A paresthesia is any abnormal sensation. It may be spontaneous or evoked by a specific event. The most common paresthesia is the sense of “pins and needles” when a nerve in a limb is compressed (e.g., the limb “falls asleep”). Paresthesias are not always painful.