Peripheral Neuropathy Neuropathic Pain

New updated edition first published with Cambridge University Press. This new edition includes 29 chapters on topics as diverse as pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, vascular haemodynamics, haemostasis, thrombophilia and post-amputation pain syndromes.

Neuropathic pain is one of the most common, most debilitating, most costly, and most difficult to treat categories of chronic pain conditions that are characterized by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system. Managing neuropathic pain is challenging and requires skillful assessment and comprehensive and integrated treatment strategies that are mechanism-guided, evidence-based, and individualized. However, these critical and integral elements are very fragmented in the current literature. The mechanistic understanding of neuropathic pain is typically found in basic research articles. Clinical research evidence is presented in forms of clinical trials with emphasis on minimizing biases such as those from patient selection and assessment. Individualized considerations for each patient are usually presented in case reports and problem-based learning discussions. This book overcomes these barriers and integrates all the critical elements around individual patient care into a coherent management strategy that is practical and applicable to daily clinical practice. Rather than compiling what have been published in the literature, this work emphasizes on identifying and highlighting the key points or findings that guide decision-making in clinical practice. It integrates the key points around a typical case scenario that not only represents the core of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes but also allows introduction and differentiation of painful conditions that bare similarities with the case in hand. The overarching goal is to improve clinical outcomes through better understanding of the mechanisms, more accurate diagnosis, and wiser and more comprehensive treatment strategies.

The incidence of neuropathic pain continues to rise, yet it is an affliction often misdiagnosed or inadequately treated. Although in recent years considerable research has been dedicated to understanding its mechanisms, there have been few advances in treatment. The contributors to this book are internationally renowned leaders in the fields of peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. They discuss clinical approaches to diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain, its underlying mechanisms, and strategies for prevention. In addition, chapters cover timely issues, including legal and ethical concerns surrounding pain treatment, the status of clinical trial methods, and educational efforts. Comprehensive yet concise, this book serves as a guide for diagnostic approaches and treatment of neuropathic pain for the student, resident, practicing physician, researcher, and specialist.

The book takes a novel approach to the subject of pain in peripheral nerve disease by bringing together basic scientists and clinicians with an expertise in the field of neuropathic pain. For the first time, the description of clinically relevant diseases, an up-to-date review of the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain and a comprehensive review of therapeutic options are combined in one book. Furthermore, the anatomy and pathology of peripheral nerve is outlined in the context of neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve disorders causing pain, the mononeuropathies and polyneuropathies are described in detail including up-to-date summaries of pathogenesis and treatment. Two chapters elucidate the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain, one looking at causes in the periphery and one covering central mechanisms. Treatment options are outlined according to current knowledge from evidence-based medicine and a state-of-the-art treatment algorithm is given to facilitate practical management. Clinicians, neurologists and neurologists in training and basic scientists who are interested in pain will profit most from this book. Painful neuropathies are frequently encountered in clinical practice and are difficult to manage. The book helps to better understand and treat those conditions.

Disorders of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are the cause of prominent neurological symptoms including weakness, sensory loss, pain and autonomic dysfunction associated with deficits, morbidity and mortality. These disorders may be primary hereditary or cryptogenic neurologic disorders confined to the PNS or part of the pathology of both the central nervous system and the PNS. Most PNS disorders are secondary to other system disorders and may be responsive to treatment of the primary disease. Important advances have been obtained in several areas including molecular genetics, biochemistry, immunology, morphology and physiology that have enhanced our understanding of the causes and consequences of damage to peripheral nerve. Understanding of both these groups of PNS diseases has greatly expanded over recent years and has led to important advances of treatment both to protect and to repair damages of peripheral nerve. This volume provides an overview of the state-of-the-art of examination, diagnosis and treatment of these very diverse disorders and will be of interest to both the research and clinical neuroscience and neurology communities. Covers both hereditary and cryptogenic neurologic disorders Includes advances in the basic science of PNS from molecular genetics, biochemistry, immunology, morphology and physiology Detailed coverage of neuropathy in connective tissue disorders, infectious disorders, metabolic disorders and malignancy

Central or peripheral neuropathic pain can be caused by a wide range of injuries, infections and diseases such as: spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, stroke, herpes zoster, diabetes and cancer. Many of these pain syndromes are difficult to treat, representing a challenge for many neurologists not routinely trained in pain management. Written by an international team of experts in the field, Neuropathic Pain: Causes, Management and Understanding gives readers an in-depth understanding of the multitude of conditions causing neuropathic pain. Epidemiology, clinical diagnosis, pathophysiology, outcome measurement and the best evidence-based management of individual and general neuropathic pain conditions are also described in depth. A unique chapter, written from a patient's viewpoint, gives new insight into how chronic neuropathic pain affects the lives of those patients with the condition. This book is essential reading for all pain specialists, neurologists, psychiatrists and anesthesiologists who wish to better understand their patients' neuropathic pain.

Written by one of the world's leading experts — Professor Gérard Said MD FRCP, Dpt de Neurologie, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France Peripheral neuropathy is a common medical condition, the diagnosis of which is often protracted or delayed. It is not always easy to relate a neuropathy to a specific cause. Many people do not receive a full diagnosis, their neuropathy often being described as 'idiopathic' or 'cryptogenic'. It is said that in Europe, one of the most common causes is diabetes mellitus but there are also many other known potential causes. The difficulty of diagnosis, the limited number of treatment options, a perceived lack of knowledge of the subject —except in specialised clinics, the number of which are limited — all add to the difficulties which many neuropathy patients have to face. Another additional problem for many patients is that once having received a full, or even a partial diagnosis, they are then often discharged back to their primary healthcare team who, in many instances, know little about this condition and how it may impact upon their patients' lives. In order to help bridge this gap in medical knowledge and to give healthcare providers a better understanding of this often distressing condition, The Neuropathy Trust has commissioned a new book on this complex topic. Written by one of the world's leading experts on neuropathy, Professor Gérard Said, it is a 'must read' and also a handy reference book for doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, chiropodists/podiatrists and other health professionals.As well as covering the anatomy of the nervous system and the basic pathological processes that may affect the peripheral nerves, the book covers a whole range of neuropathic conditions. These include, for example, Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, vasculitic neuropathies, infectious neuropathies, diabetic and other metabolic neuropathies, hereditary neuropathies and neuropathies in patients with cancer. Given the almost explosive increase in diabetes predicted over the coming years and the high incidence of HIV infections alone, not to mention all the other possible causes of peripheral neuropathy, no self-respecting medical unit should be without a copy of this new book on their shelves. The author, Professor Gérard Said, is based in the Department of Neurology at the prestigious Hôpital de la Salpêtrière in Paris. He has devoted a lifetime to the study of peripheral neuropathy and — alongside other great neurological names — added much to the world's ever-growing store of knowledge on this complex but fascinating condition which affects so many individuals.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition which causes damage to the nerves. Damage to these nerves can affect the movement, sensation and organ function of a person. Whereas, neuropathic pain is a chronic pain which occurs mainly because of injury to the somatosensory nervous system. The usual treatment given to patients suffering from neuropathic pain involves medication like anticonvulsants, antidepressants, dietary supplements, neuromodulators, etc. This book includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted across the world, on various topics related to peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. It is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.