Combined approaches for the relief of spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain

- The pharmacological therapy for the neuropathic pain has unwanted side effects.
- The sensory modulation in not unique way for the neuropathic pain treatment.
- Acupuncture modulates pain and psychiatric disorders in neuropathic pain.
- Acupuncture has effects on pain and psychiatric modulation is mediated by GABA system.
- Acupuncture has great effects at pain and psychiatric disorders, and suggests the feasibility for neuropathic pain therapy.

The adequate treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced neuropathic pain still remains an unresolved problem. The current medications predominantly used in the SCI-induced neuropathic pain therapy are morphine, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and antiepileptics, which suggests that psychiatric aspects might be important factors in the treatment of neuropathic pain.It is well documented that the modulation of the sensory events is not a unique way for achieving pain relief. In addition, pain patients still express dissatisfaction and complain of unwanted effects of the medications, suggesting that alternative approaches for the treatment of neuropathic pain are essential. In psychiatry, pain relief represents relaxation and a feeling of comfort and satisfaction, which suggests that cognitive and emotional motivations are important factors in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The comorbidity of chronic pain and psychiatric disorders, which is well recognized, suggests that the effective therapeutic relief for neuropathic pain induced by SCI can be achieved in conjunction with the management of the sensory and psychiatric aspects of patient.In this review, we address the feasibility of a combined acupuncture and pharmacotherapy treatment for the relief of neuropathic pain behavior following SCI.