Peripheral mechanisms in developing neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is an unpleasant sensory experience which is caused by damage to the neural cells. Due to the difficulty in treating neuropathic pain, deep insight into the neuropathic pain mechanisms may be promising. Therefore, this study reviews the peripheral mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain.

In this study, previous investigations about peripheral mechanisms responsible for neuropathic pain which is cited in the PubMed database from 1999 till 2017 were reviewed.

In this review, many of the peripheral mechanisms involved in neuropathic pain were considered. In addition, different receptors and ion channels, synaptic physiology involved in neuropathic pain such as neuronal arborization and also the regulation of pain mediators especially in animal models were studied. Overall, nociceptors sensitization, changing in the ion nociceptors channels expression and frequency, neuronal arborization are the major peripheral mechanisms responsible for neuropathic pain.

Due to the difficulty of diagnosing and treating neuropathic pain, pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, as well as combined therapies, are very important. Among the pharmacological treatment, using drugs which play as antagonists of receptors and channels involved in the pain process, including topical antipsychotics and opioids and among the non-pharmacological treatment, physiotherapy, spinal cord stimulation, and modern surgical procedures recommended. Also, using the drug with natural sources to inhibit the mentioned mechanisms can be considered.