What are the Symptoms of Centralized Pain?
Unlocking the Puzzle: What are the symptoms of centralized pain?
Centralized pain, also known as Central Pain Syndrome (CPS), is a neurological condition that occurs due to the central nervous system's inability to process pain signals correctly. This blog delves into the symptoms of centralized pain, its causes, and how it affects the body.
What Is Centralized Pain?
Centralized pain is a condition that arises from damage or dysfunction in the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. This disorder can result from various causes, including strokes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, brain tumors, and spinal cord injuries, among others.
What are the symptoms of centralized pain?
Symptoms of Centralized Pain
People experiencing centralized pain commonly report a constant burning sensation, often accentuated by light touch or temperature changes. This burning feeling is usually most intense in distant parts of the body, such as the hands or feet. However, the symptoms of centralized pain can widely vary among individuals due to the wide assortment of potential causes.
Location and Intensity of Pain
In most cases, the location of the centralized pain usually depends on the part of the nervous system that has been affected. The pain is typically constant but can fluctuate in intensity, ranging from moderate to severe.
Sensory Changes
In addition to pain, individuals with centralized pain often experience changes in their sense of touch, leading to numbness or sensations such as tingling, often described as a "pins and needles" feeling.
Emotional and Environmental Influences
Environmental factors can also influence the intensity of the pain. For instance, the pain might feel more severe when the individual is cold, stressed, or startled. Emotional state and the level of physical activity can also affect the pain intensity.
Descriptive Terms for Pain
People with centralized pain often describe their pain in similar terms. Common descriptions include burning, sharp or stabbing pain, severe itching, painful numbness or tingling, deep tissue or muscle pain, aching or intense pressure, and sensations like cutting or slicing.
Accompanying Conditions and Symptoms
Living with chronic pain like centralized pain can significantly impact an individual's mental health and overall well-being. As such, people with CPS often also experience anxiety, depression (sometimes with suicidal thoughts or behaviors), memory loss or brain fog, fatigue or exhaustion, and trouble sleeping.
Causes of Centralized Pain
Centralized pain can occur due to injury or damage to the brain or spinal cord, or due to chronic pain conditions. Several conditions can cause such injuries or damage, including:
Conditions that Cause Chronic Pain
Any condition that leads to chronic pain can potentially cause centralized pain. Experts have linked CPS with several chronic pain-related conditions, further highlighting the complexity of this syndrome.
Genetic Factors
Research indicates that genetics may play a role in the development of centralized pain syndrome. Individuals with a first-degree relative (biological parents, siblings, or children) with centralized pain syndrome are at a higher risk of developing pain problems.
How Does Centralized Pain Affect the Body?
To better understand how centralized pain affects the body, one can compare the body to a complex building, with the nervous system acting like the building's fire alarm system. The nervous system picks up signs of damage and injury to the body and sets off an "alarm" to let you know there's a problem.
However, in the case of centralized pain, this system malfunctions. Damage to the brain or spinal cord can cause problems with how the brain processes pain signals, leading to pain sensation even in the absence of any physical injury.
Over time, the nervous system may become hypersensitive to pain or interpret non-pain signals as painful due to chronic pain conditions. This can disrupt various bodily systems, including the endocrine system, leading to potential disorders.
Managing Centralized Pain
While pain medications often provide some level of relief, they are not always completely effective in treating centralized pain. However, some antidepressants and anticonvulsants have proven useful in managing this condition.
Moreover, engaging in self-care practices, such as getting adequate sleep and regular exercise, can significantly help manage centralized pain. These activities can help "turn down the volume" on pain and make it more manageable.
It's also crucial to have open, detailed discussions with your doctor about your pain, as this can aid in devising effective treatment plans. In some cases, patients may be referred to pain centers where they can access a variety of health professionals who can provide a comprehensive approach to managing their pain.
Conclusion
Understanding the symptoms of centralized pain is crucial in managing this complex condition. By keeping open communication with healthcare providers and engaging in self-care practices, those suffering from centralized pain can better navigate the challenges presented by this condition. Remember, you're not alone in this journey, and there are resources available to help you manage and cope with centralized pain.
Check out our other posts and our book recommendations to learn more!
The Chronic Pain Blog 💗
DISCLAIMER: INFORMATION PROVIDED VIA OUR CONTENT (VIDEOS, AUDIOS, BLOGS, PDFS, POSTS AND OR COMMENTS) ARE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND NOTHING PUBLISHED CONSTITUTES ADVICE UPON WHICH YOU SHOULD RELY. WE DO NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OR ACCURACY, OR FOR ANY OPINIONS, VIEWS OR VALUES EXPRESSED IN ANY VIDEOS, BLOGS, POSTS AND OR COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY USERS AND THOSE REMAIN SOLELY THE OPINIONS, VIEWS AND OR VALUES OF THE RELEVANT USER.
Sources:
Dydyk, A.M. and Givler, A. (2021). Central Pain Syndrome. [online] PubMed. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553027/.
Institute for Chronic Pain (n.d.). Central Sensitization. [online] instituteforchronicpain.org. Available at: https://instituteforchronicpain.org/understanding-chronic-pain/what-is-chronic-pain/central-sensitization.
Volcheck, M.M., Graham, S.M., Fleming, K.C., Mohabbat, A.B. and Luedtke, C.A. (2023). Central sensitization, chronic pain, and other symptoms: Better understanding, better management. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, [online] 90(4), pp.245–254. doi:https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.90a.22019.
