Physiology and pathophysiology of chronic pain (Part I)

Chronic pain affects a significant proportion of the population. It negatively affects wellbeing, quality of life and productivity. To improve the effective management of chronic pain it is essential to understand pain physiology. The aim of this review is to discuss the physiology of pain as a foundation for understanding chronic pain. It describes the current definition of pain and classification of pain. Pain processing and pathways are also explained with emphasis on modulation of pain and its crucial role in pain perception. It also highlights the importance of multidisciplinary pain management.