The role of the sympathetic nervous system and pain

Sympathetic mediated pain seems to be involved in several pain conditions because interruption of the sympathetic nerve supply can result in pain relief. Complex regional pain syndrome of the upper and lower limbs and pancreatic cancer pain are two of the most common pain conditions for which sympathetic blockade techniques are done. Stellate ganglion block and lumbar sympathectomy are performed for upper and lower limb sympathetic blockade, respectively. Coeliac plexus block interrupts the visceral sympathetic and afferent nerve supply to various abdominal viscera, and can be very useful for pancreatic and gastric cancer pains.