Chronic pain is divided into two categories: nociceptive and neuropathic.
All people will experience nociceptive pain at some point. This category includes pain from incidents such as a cut, a burn or an injury.
Conversely, neuropathic pain is caused by a problem with nerve pathways, which means that the way the nerve sends pain messages to the brain is affected. Neuropathic pain is often described as numbness, tingling, or a sensation similar to an electric shock. It is a debilitating condition and although the exact prevalence is unknown, some European based studies have estimated it from 7% to 37%. It is often under-diagnosed and under-treated.
