Neuropathic pain is nerve pain that can occur when the nervous system is damaged or dysfunctional. Any of the various levels of the nervous system, including the peripheral nerves, the spinal cord and the brain, can be the cause of pain. The central nervous system consists of the spinal cord and the brain. Peripheral nerves are the nerves that spread throughout the rest of the body to places such as organs, arms, legs, fingers and toes.
Damaged nerve fibers send wrong signals to pain centers throughout the body, causing neuropathic pain. Nerve function can be altered at the site of nerve damage and in areas of the central nervous system.
One of the most preferred tools by doctors to assess neuropathic pain is the DN4 Neuropathic Pain Assessment Tool.
