Effects of sodium channel blockade on the cerebral processing of mechanical hyperalgesia: a fMRI study

Background: Nerve injury and tissue inflammation can result in spontaneous and evoked pain (hyperalgesia). Basically, primary hyperalgesia is located in the area of injury and is a result of peripheral sensitization, whereas secondary mechanical hyperalgesia develops in the surrounding tissue due to mechanisms of central sensitization. Sodium channel blockade is known for reduction of spontaneous pain and hyperalgesia by predominantly central mechanisms. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine changes in cerebral processing of mechanical hyperalgesia induced by pharmacological modulation using l…