Neuropathic pain: a narrative review of etiology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for primary care providers

Abstract

Background: Neuropathic pain (NeP) is a distinct type of chronic pain that is a direct result of damage to the nervous system itself. Studies have shown that training on the topic of chronic pain in medical schools is lacking and many practitioners are not confident in their ability to effectively manage patients with such pain.

Aims: The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a brief high-level overview of NeP for primary healthcare providers that includes a discussion of mechanisms, prevalence, burden, assessment, and treatment. The information provided here should help primary care providers better understand this type of chronic pain.

Keywords:

• Neuropathic pain
• primary care
• treatment
• review

Notes

Transparency

Declaration of funding

Development of this manuscript was sponsored by Pfizer Inc.

Author contributions: All authors were involved in the preparation and review of this manuscript, and all approved its final submission to the journal.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

B.M. has disclosed that he serves or has recently served as a consultant to Pfizer, Collegium, Millennium, Takeda, Depomed, Janssen, Kaléo, and AstraZeneca; and owns stock in Johnson & Johnson, Protein Design Labs, BioSpecifics Technologies, Nektar Therapeutics, Galena, and Collegium. Y.D. has disclosed that she serves or has recently served as a consultant to Pfizer, Depomed, Charleston Labs, AstraZeneca, and Ortho‐McNeil; acted as part of a speaker’s bureau for Purdue; receives book royalties from Springer Publishing; serves as a peer reviewer for Elsevier and Lippincott; and serves on the editorial boards for Nursing and The Nurse Practitioner Journal. B.P., A.S., A.T., and R.B. have disclosed that they are all full-time employees of, and own stock in, Pfizer.

CMRO peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Medical writing support was provided by Matt Soulsby, PhD, CMPP, of Engage Scientific Solutions and was funded by Pfizer Inc.

Notes

1 Cymbalta is a registered trade name of Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN

2 Effexor XR is a registered trade name of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc, Philadelphia, PA

3 Lyrica is a registered trade name of Pfizer Inc, New York, NY

4 Neurontin is a registered trade name of Pfizer Inc, New York, NY

5 Lidoderm is a registered trade name of Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc, Malvern, PA

6 Qutenza is a registered trade name of Acorda Therapeutics Inc, Ardsley, NY

7 Nucynta is a registered trade name of Depomed, Inc, Newark, CA