Main description:

This book sheds new light on central pain, a field that is largely obscured by lack of knowledge among pain professionals at all levels, including high-end pain centers. As a matter of fact, central pain, classified as a form of neuropathic pain, remains too often a scourge for those affected due to the ignorance of pain therapists worldwide and enduring misconceptions at the academic level. By weighing up the relevant evidence, the authors aim to remedy the situation by providing clear-cut, no-nonsense, unbiased and directly applicable clinical information.

The clinically sound guidelines presented here are based on the authors' twenty years of treating patients and conducting research in the field. The book will be an invaluable guide for neurologists, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, pain therapists as well as physiotherapists.

Contents:

Part 1 Introduction.- Introducing central pain.- Part 2 Clinical features and diagnosis.- Epidemiology.- Clinical features.- Somatosensory findings.- Central pruritus.- Natural history.- Central pain-allied conditions and special considerations.- Diagnosing central pain.- Part 3 Treatment.- Drug therapy.- Neuromodulation.- Cortical stimulation.- Deep brain stimulation.- Spinal cord stimulation.- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.- Other stimulation techniques.- Intraspinal drug infusion.- Complementary and alternative approaches.- Guidelines.- Part 4 Pathophysiology (one comprehensive chapter).- Appendix: update tables.