Assessment of neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is defined as ‘pain initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction of the nervous system’. It can be a debilitating and difficult condition to treat and is often resistant to simple analgesics, requiring additional analgesic approaches. Recent estimates suggest that up to 8% of the general population suffer with pain that is associated with neuropathic features and, when it persists, it impacts significantly on patients’ lives affecting physical, psychological and social functioning. It is not only devastating for patients but also places considerable demands on society, including financial burdens relating to healthcare costs, workplace disruption, disability and benefits. This article focuses on the identification and assessment of neuropathic pain. It will describe the key features, causes and mechanisms and guide clinicians in their assessment of neuropathic pain.