neuropathic vs. neuroplastic

[mbo]

Since all kind of pain is, according to the neuroscience, rooted and generated by the brain and the nervous system, it is not unreasonable, in a wide sense, to consider any pain as NEUROLOGICAL.
So, the key is to accurately differentiate between the two forms of (neurological) pain: neuropathic or neuroplastic.
The neuropathic pain is related to illness, injury, pathology or tissue damage and requires a medical treatment
whereas...
the neuroplastic pain (aka TMS, MBS, PPD, ...) is related to congnitive and/or emotional issues and demands a psychological approach (instead of pills, physiotherapy, steroid injections, surgery,...BEWARE!)

Does it make sense?
M.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

Short answer: Yep!

Longer answer, and I'm sure you already know this, @mbo, so it's really for the benefit of our newer members: is that neuropathic pain can become neuroplastic pain after (sometimes long after) the healing of the injury or illness has been achieved, for purely psychological/emotional reasons.

 

[mbo]

Short answer: Yep!

Longer answer, and I'm sure you already know this, @mbo, so it's really for the benefit of our newer members: is that neuropathic pain can become neuroplastic pain after (sometimes long after) the healing of the injury or illness has been achieved, for purely psychological/emotional reasons.

Well said !
I append and guess:
acute pain is mainly (but not only) neuropathic
whereas
chronic/persistent/repetitive pain is mainly (but not only) neuroplastic.

 

[mbo]

AND.... sometimes (frequently?) neuroplastic pain begins from scratch, without a previous acute/neuropathic pain

and in certain cases neuropathic pain overlaps with neuroplastic pain: that's the "perfect storm", the extreme confusion.

I guess, of course.
M

 

[JanAtheCPA]

I guess, of course.

And... the more you try to define it and find discrete categories, the harder it gets.

We are, after all, talking about the human brain.

 

[TG957]

AND.... sometimes (frequently?) neuroplastic pain begins from scratch, without a previous acute/neuropathic pain

and in certain cases neuropathic pain overlaps with neuroplastic pain: that's the "perfect storm", the extreme confusion.

I guess, of course.
M

Great observation! In my opinion, those who have had a precipitating injury have a much harder time accepting TMS diagnosis, and it is often hard to convince them that our bodies have self-repairing capabilities and chronic pain is in most cases neuroplastic.