Its exact role remains to be fully defined, and it is known to be produced on the other side of the synapse in addition to many other places. If a stimulus arrives at the synapse in the dorsal horn more frequently than once every 3 seconds, the post-synaptic electrical discharge becomes more prolonged, with consequent increase in the severity of the pain. Dorsal Horn Pathophysiology Neuropathic changes can occur, especially when pain persists. The nature of these, the circumstances under which they occur, as well as how to prevent and even reverse them, is the focus of much current research. The following is by no means a complete description, and is given to stimulate further reading.
Central sensitization is characteristic of chronic pain.
With long continued stimulation, there are physiological changes. But many are structural in nature. These genetic changes affect the volume and type of enzymes and neuropeptides produced. Thereby they induce long term changes in these post-synaptic cells. One of these changes is that nerve growth factor begins to be produced in sufficient quantities as to promote alteration in patterns of nerve connections in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord at or about the level of incoming pain fibres.