The main difference between nociceptive and neuropathic pain is that nociceptive pain develops in response to external stimuli, whereas neuropathic pain develops in response to damage to the nervous system.
Nociceptive and neuropathic pain are two types of pain. The human body has so many receptors called nociceptors to respond to stimuli of tissue damage. Also, the pain has four types: acute pain, chronic pain, nociceptive pain, and neuropathic pain.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Nociceptive Pain
– Definition, Features, Importance
2. What is Neuropathic Pain
– Definition, Features, Importance
3. Similarities Between Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Neuropathic Pain, Nociceptive Pain
What is Nociceptive Pain
Nociceptive pain is a type of pain that arises in response to external stimuli. It occurs in damages to the body tissue other than to the nervous tissue. However, it tends to go away with the healing of the body tissue. For example, nociceptive pain can occur in the ankle when broken, and with the recovery of the ankle, the pain goes away. On the other hand, nociceptors are specialized types of receptors that occur in the body to detect noxious stimuli. These noxious stimuli can be heat or cold, pressure, pinching, and chemicals. Significantly, they can harm our bodies. Nociceptive pain occurs with the signals sent to the brain through the nervous tissue.
Figure 1: Nociceptive Pain
Furthermore, nociceptive pain is acute that can occur very quickly. Also, nociceptive pain can occur in internal organs. Most people can experience nociceptive pain in the musculoskeletal system, which includes the joints, muscles, skin, tendons, and bones. Internal organs, including the intestines, lungs, smooth muscles, and heart, can experience nociceptive pain.
What is Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is the type of pain that develops with damage to the nervous tissue in the body. Here, the nervous system can damage or not work correctly due to an injury or disease. In contrast, neuropathic pain does not develop in response to external stimuli. It is also called chronic nerve pain. Additionally, neuropathic pain can occur in diabetes, multiple sclerosis, stroke, cancer, cytomegalovirus, and amputation. For example, people with diabetes can experience neuropathy in body parts. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) causes pain in the hands and feet. Other areas that develop pain in diabetic neuropathy include the front of the thighs, near the eyes, and the wrists.
Figure 2: Diabetic Neuropathy
Moreover, in cancer, people experience back, leg, chest, and shoulder pain due to tumors affecting the spinal cord. However, medications can help to prevent pain in diabetic neuropathy. Also, anticonvulsants are essential in relieving pain in cancer. Additionally, neuropathic pain symptoms include sharp, shooting, searing, or stabbing pain, tingling sensations, numbness, extreme sensitivity to touch, insensitivity to heat or cold, muscle weakness, and worse pain at night.
Similarities Between Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain
- Nociceptive and neuropathic pain are two types of pain signals our nervous system responds to.
Difference Between Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain
Definition
Nociceptive pain refers to pain that arises from actual or threatened damage to non-neural tissue and is due to the activation of the nociceptor. In contrast, neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system.
Significance
Nociceptive pain is common, while neuropathic pain is less common.
Type of Pain
Nociceptive pain is the body’s natural defense against harmful substances, while neuropathic pain occurs due to damage to the nervous system.
Acute or Chronic
Nociceptive pain is acute, while neuropathic pain is chronic.
Examples
Nociceptive pain occurs in response to trauma, surgery, or chemical burn, while neuropathic pain occurs due to diabetic neuropathy, shingles, or postherpetic neuralgia.
Conclusion
In brief, nociceptive and neuropathic pain are two types of pain that can occur in our bodies. Nociceptive pain arises due to actual or threatened damage to the non-neural tissue. It is a common type of pain that is acute. Examples of nociceptive pain are the pain that arises in trauma, chemical burn, or surgery. In comparison, neuropathic pain occurs due to damage to the body’s nervous system. It is a less common type of chronic pain that can occur in diabetic neuropathy, shingles, or postherpetic neuralgia. Therefore, the main difference between nociceptive and neuropathic pain is the type of damage to the body.
References:
- Armstrong SA, Herr MJ. Physiology, Nociception. 2023 May 1. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31855389.
Image Courtesy:
- “Nociceptive pain” By Manu5 – Own work (CC-BY SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “Blausen 0311 DiabeticNeuropathy” By BruceBlaus- Own Work (CC-BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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