The Practitioner
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Topical corticosteroids in eczema. A comparative trial. A report from the General Practitioner Research Group.
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Neuropathic pain is defined as 'pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system'. It may reflect a widespread neuropathic process (e.g. diabetic neuropathy) or a more focal disorder (e.g. post-herpetic neuralgia). The practical importance of recognising neuropathic pain (as distinct from nociceptive pain) lies in the difference in effective treatments. ⋯ A specialist opinion should be sought where the diagnosis is uncertain, or the patient's condition is rapidly deteriorating or uncontrolled. This may be a specialist in a particular condition, to address issues of primary diagnosis, or a specialist in pain medicine to advise on, or provide, further treatment. Patients who are struggling with their pain are best served by specialist centres that can endeavour to explain the condition and encourage self-management.