What is sympathetic nerve-related pain?

       Sympathetic nerve-related pain is mostly associated with dysfunction and damage of sympathetic nerves. Many of the chronic pains encountered in clinical practice, especially refractory pains, are related to sympathetic involvement. It is important to understand sympathetic pain correctly and choose appropriate interventional treatment.  Common sympathetic nerve-related pain: 1. Complex local pain syndrome (CRPS) Contains two types of typical sympathetic pain disorders, namely reflex sympathetic dystrophy and burning neuralgia. The lesions are characterized by peripheral neurovascular lesions accompanied by abnormalities in central nervous system signaling.  The waterfall-like release of inflammatory mediators and nociceptive factors from the damaged tissues stimulates the peripheral nerves, nerve roots, and central nervous system, triggering the reconfiguration of the pain reflecting system in the cerebrospinal cord and thalamus, ultimately leading to nociceptive hypersensitivity and abnormal pain.  It is commonly seen in various post-surgical pain syndromes, pain caused by radiotherapy, nerve damage caused by viruses, infections, etc. Although the etiology and mechanism of these painful diseases are different, the clinical manifestations are mostly similar.  2. Visceral pain Pain originating from visceral organs, transmitted to the center through the vegetative nerves. It is mostly caused by tumors, ischemic or inflammatory lesions, etc. It is characterized by an indefinite location, a wide range of pain, and often associated with involvement pain.  The pain caused by the wall layer of thorax, peritoneum, mesentery and diaphragm is transmitted by the somatic nerve, so once the lesion is invaded, a more fixed and clear pain can appear.  3, peripheral vascular pain diseases, including peripheral vascular contraction dysfunction, embolism, sclerosis and other lesions caused by pain. Most of these diseases have sympathetic nerve dysfunction and can be diagnosed, prognosed and treated by sympathetic nerve block. Such as Raynaud’s disease, red scarring limb pain, hand and foot cyanosis, reticular cyanosis, arteriovenous embolism, vasculitis, retinopathy, etc.  4.Other indeterminate presentation syndrome, atypical facial pain, neuropathic pain, etc.