Drug Treatment of Neuropathic Pain in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Neuropathic pain develops as a result of a lesion or a disease in somatosensory nerve system. It can develop over one-half of the patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). It can be classified into 3 categories as follows: pain below the level of lesion, at the level of lesion and above the level of lesion. In these patients, treatment is directed to available symptoms, findings and underlying mechanisms. The most commonly used agents include antidepressants, anticonvulsants and opiates. In the present manuscript, we will provide literature data about the effects of these agents on neuropathic pain observed in patients with SCI.