title: Combined approaches for the relief of spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain.
abstract: The adequate treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced neuropathic pain still remains an unresolved problem. The current medications predominantly used in the SCI-induced neuropathic pain therapy are morphine, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and antiepileptics, which suggests that psychiatric aspects might be important factors in the treatment of neuropathic pain. It is well documented that the modulation of the sensory events is not a unique way for achieving pain relief. In addition, pain patients still express dissatisfaction and complain of unwanted effects of the medications, suggesting that alternative approaches for the treatment of neuropathic pain are essential. In psychiatry, pain relief represents relaxation and a feeling of comfort and satisfaction, which suggests that cognitive and emotional motivations are important factors in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The comorbidity of chronic pain and psychiatric disorders, which is well recognized, suggests that the effective therapeutic relief for neuropathic pain induced by SCI can be achieved in conjunction with the management of the sensory and psychiatric aspects of patient. In this review, we address the feasibility of a combined acupuncture and pharmacotherapy treatment for the relief of neuropathic pain behavior following SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-828, South Korea. Electronic address: ysgwak@dhu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Young S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Gwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-828, South Korea. Electronic address: hykim@dhu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-828, South Korea. Electronic address: dlqhsgy@dhu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Bong Hyo
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-828, South Korea. Electronic address: chyang@dhu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chae Ha
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D059408:Pain Management; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
keywords: Acupuncture; GABA; Neuropathic pain; Reward; Spinal cord injury