Types of pain
Pain can be broadly divided into 3 categories:
| Type of pain | Description | Example |
| Neuropathic pain (nerve damage pain) | Initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction in the nervous system.3 | Post-herpetic neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia |
| Somatic pain | A type of nociceptive pain caused by activation of peripheral sensory nerves supplying parts of the body such as bones, joints and soft tissues, without damage to the nerves.3 | Chronic low back pain, osteoporosis pain and osteoarthritis |
| Visceral pain | A type of nociceptive pain caused by activation of peripheral sensory nerves supplying internal organs.3 | Irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia |
However, in certain conditions, such as cancer or after surgery, an individual’s pain may consist of more than 1 of these types of pain.
The objective of treatment in all types of pain, irrespective of origin, is to achieve symptom control and improve the patient’s quality of life.