Sympathetic and Psychogenic Pain

Sympathetic pain
Related to dysfunction of the sympathetic part of autonomic nervous system (regulates heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, stomach acid secretions, sweating, etc.)

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome I (aka reflex sympathetic dystrophy, causalgia) – a chronic pain condition usually triggered by tissue injury (no nerve injury) in the extremities of the body/limbs. The pain is continuous and extreme in comparison to the severity of the injury. Symptoms include changes in skin temperature/colour (as a result of vasomotor instability), intense burning pain, sensitive skin/allodynia, sweating, swelling, motor disability.

Do not really understand the cause, just that the sympathetic nervous system has a large role in maintaining pain. Latest theories include pain receptors in the part of the body become responsive to catecholamines (NS messengers). Their release from sympathetic nerves could activate pain pathways after tissue/nerve injury.


Psychogenic pain
Pain disorder associated with psychological factors. Pain may be caused/increased/prolonged by mental or emotional problems. Diagnosed when there is no other basis for pain (biological/anatomical). Pain may increase/decrease with a change in psychogenic factors. Some of the most common types are headaches, muscle pains and back and stomach pains.

Can by acute or chronic. More common in people with anxiety disorders and mood disorders e.g. depression, bipolar

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy/detail_reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy.htm
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/pain_management/hic_psychogenic_pain.aspx
http://www.bmhcc.org/health/library/ment3164.asp