Pain wind-up
Pain wind-up
Pain wind-up (pronunciation: /peɪn wɪnd-ʌp/) is a phenomenon in the field of neuroscience and pain management that refers to the progressive increase in pain intensity with repeated stimulation at a constant intensity. It is a central nervous system process and is considered a form of neuroplasticity.
Etymology
The term "wind-up" is derived from the analogy of winding up a mechanical toy, where each turn of the key increases the tension in the spring and the potential energy stored. Similarly, in pain wind-up, each repeated stimulus increases the perceived intensity of pain.
Mechanism
Pain wind-up is believed to be due to the temporal summation of C-fibers, the unmyelinated nerve fibers that carry slow pain signals to the spinal cord. With repeated stimulation, these fibers release glutamate and substance P, neurotransmitters that increase the excitability of spinal cord neurons, leading to an amplified pain response.
Clinical significance
Understanding pain wind-up is crucial in the management of chronic pain conditions. It is thought to contribute to conditions such as fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and central sensitization syndrome. Therapies aimed at reducing pain wind-up, such as certain antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs, are used in the management of these conditions.
Related terms
- Hyperalgesia: An increased sensitivity to pain, which can be a result of pain wind-up.
- Allodynia: A condition where normally non-painful stimuli are perceived as painful, often associated with conditions involving pain wind-up.
- Nociception: The sensory nervous system's response to harmful or potentially harmful stimuli, which is amplified in pain wind-up.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pain wind-up
- Wikipedia's article - Pain wind-up
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