Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system, including peripheral fibres and central neurons, and affects 7 to 10% of the general population. Multiple causes of neuropathic pain have been described and its incidence is likely to increase owing to the ageing global population, increased incidence of diabetes mellitus and improved survival from cancer after chemotherapy (8).

 

Neuropathic pain is defined as “pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system” (9).

 

Central neuropathic pain is defined as “pain caused by a lesion or disease of the central somatosensory nervous system” (9).

 

Peripheral neuropathic pain is defined as “pain caused by a lesion or disease of the peripheral somatosensory nervous system” (9).

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Neuropathic pain can substantially impair quality of life as it often associates with other problems, such as loss of function, anxiety, depression, disturbed sleep and impaired cognition. (8).

 

Medicines might only partly help the symptoms. Everyone is different and responds differently to drug treatment and some people find that the drugs start to help straight away, and for others it takes a bit more time (9).