The document titled "Nociplastic pain: towards an understanding of prevalent pain conditions" is a comprehensive review published in The Lancet (2021) that introduces and elaborates on the concept of nociplastic pain, a third mechanistic category of chronic pain distinct from nociceptive and neuropathic pain.
- Nociplastic pain is caused by altered nociceptive function without clear tissue damage or nerve injury.
- It is typically associated with central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, including amplified sensory processing, altered pain modulation, and non-pain symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep, mood disturbances, and memory issues.