Fast Five Quiz: Neuropathic, Nociceptive, and Mixed Pain

Shaheen E. Lakhan, MD, PhD, MS, MEd

September 10, 2019

Pain is a subjective experience that is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage."

Several types of pain have been illustrated by IASP, including neuropathic pain, characterized as "a clinical description (and not a diagnosis), which requires a demonstrable lesion or a disease that satisfied established neurological diagnostic criteria." Another classification includes nociceptive pain, which is thought to be most common type of pain and arises from the activation of the nociceptors. Recently, nociplastic and "mixed pain" have also been identified.

To discern among the possible pain etiologies, clinicians are advised to ask patients to describe their pain on the basis of a number of factors, including onset, location, radiation, and any means by which pain is exacerbated and/or relieved. Multidimensional assessments are recommended to further characterize symptoms and emotional factors and to determine appropriate treatment.

How much do you know about the assessment and etiology of neuropathic, nociceptive, and mixed pain? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.

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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this: Shaheen E. Lakhan. Fast Five Quiz: Neuropathic, Nociceptive, and Mixed Pain - Medscape - Sep 10, 2019.

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