What are the differences between central and peripheral neuropathic pain?
While central neuropathic starts with a process in the CNS, the peripheral nervous system can impact and modify the pain, as patients may have allodynia and hyperalgesia and note that some types of touch or stimulus of the body can lessen pain. Similarly, while damage to the nervous system outside of the CNS is required for peripheral neuropathic pain, central sensitization and changes in CNS pain processing are often the primary reasons for the ongoing pain. In general, central neuropathic pain states appear to be more difficult to treat, and there are fewer treatments established as effective for them. Additionally, patients with central neuropathic pain may have more profound neurological deficits accompanying their pain complaints.
