Fibromyalgia & Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain originates from a damaged nerve. The term is frequently used to describe a condition that occurs with diabetes, diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathic pain has also been associated with fibromyalgia, a painful condition for which doctors have yet to define a cause.

Function

In the nervous system, electrical signals are sent from the brain's nerves to all parts of the body. When the signals are received, they tell the brain how to react to pain.

Significance

It has been suggested that fibromyalgia is caused by a nervous system that is not functioning properly, when extra signals are sent from damaged nerves. This would cause the exaggerated pain those with fibromyalgia feel.

Cause

Neuropathic pain can be linked to an injury, infection or illness (such as shingles). Researchers have not pinpointed how neuropathic pain is caused in fibromyalgia.

Lyrica

Pregabalin, sold under the name Lyrica, is a medication used for the pain of diabetic neuropathy as well as the nerve pain following shingles (postherpetic neuralgia). It has also been used to control the seizures of epilepsy.

Considerations

After clinical trials showed an improvement in fibromyalgia patients who took Lyrica, it became the first medication approved for that condition. Its benefit for fibromyalgia helps substantiate the connection between the disease and neuropathic pain.

References

• Fibromyalgia Is a Neuropathic Pain Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia: The Misapprehended Pain
• About Fibromyalgia