Pain Forum
Volume 7, Issue 3 , Pages 117-125, Autumn 1998

Visceral pain:

A disturbance in the sensorimotor continuum?

  • Elie D. Al-Chaer

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
    • ,
  • Yi Feng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
    • ,
  • William D. Willis

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: William D. Willis, MD, PhD, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1069.

A painful experience may be brought about by an equilibrium shift in the kinetics of the central nervous system or by the information flow in separate interactive pathways and neural centers. A number of recent studies have addressed the role of spinal pathways, in particular the dorsal column, and other alternative mechanisms in the processing and integration of visceral information into a visceral pain experience. This article reviews newly reported experimental findings and some of the historical clinical evidence that point to a role of the dorsal column in visceral pain. It proposes a shift to a goal-oriented approach to pain issues that defers speculations about the nature of pain and keeps in mind the exigency of pain relief for those who are suffering.

Key words: central nervous system, colon, dorsal column, pain, viscera

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PII: S1082-3174(98)70007-8

doi:10.1016/S1082-3174(98)70007-8

Pain Forum
Volume 7, Issue 3 , Pages 117-125, Autumn 1998

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