Trigeminal neuropathic pain: Evidence of central changes from human brain imaging investigations

Abstract

AbstractChronic neuropathic pain imposes enormous economic and social burden on Australia and can occur following relatively minor surgical procedures. The precise mechanisms that result in one individual developing chronic pain and another individual not, following seemingly identical surgical procedures, remain unknown. However, over the past few decades, numerous preclinical and human brain imaging studies have begun to reveal possible mechanisms responsible for the development of neuropathic pain following nerve injury. In this review, the latest human brain imaging results are canvassed and an overall series of events that might occur following nerve injury and how these events may lead to the development and maintenance of chronic neuropathic pain is outlined.