Walsh & Hoyt: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Pain

The International Society for the Study of Pain defines pain as ""an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage."" Pain is therefore multidimensional, and may be good or bad, necessary or unnecessary, and is dependent upon self-report of the experience. The relationship between disease (inflammation, tissue damage, nerve damage) and central processing determines a wide range of pain symptoms. Peripheral and central pain pathways have plasticity, and can be modified both functionally and structurally. These concepts provide insight both into the underlying mechanisms of pain syndromes, as well as the rationale for therapeutic interventions.