The Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain

iSTOP's role is transitioning to

UBC Gunn IMS Program – Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia

https://www.gunnims.com/


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Clinical Signs


Signs of Neuropathy:


Neuropathic pain can be confirmed by demonstrating physical or visible features of nerve dysfunction in the painful area, as well as at the corresponding spinal level.  There are subtle signs that you can even use yourself at home to confirm the category of pain. These signs outperform laboratory tests and are frequently more sensitive than radiological investigations. Dr. Gunn’s Radiculopathy Model outlines these neuropathic features below:

Sensory Alteration:

  • The painful area is tender to finger pressure.  Tenderness is maximal over motor points where the nerve enters a muscle or tendon.  These generally correspond to acupuncture and trigger points. 
  • Sometimes multiple tender points occur when more than one spinal segment is involved, which is known as fibromyalgia. 
  • Tenderness can also be located in the spinal muscles.

Autonomic Features:

  • The painful part is usually colder (from vasoconstriction).
  • The painful area may exhibit excess perspiration. 
  • There may be Goosebumps over the painful area. 
  • Often there is excess fluid in the subcutaneous tissues, as in Trophedema:
  • The Matchstick Test
  • The Skin Rolling Test

goosebumps

orange

matchstick

fingerpress

Goosebumps

Skin Rolling Test

Matchstick Test

Orange Peel



Internal Organs:


Peripheral nerves all innervate internal organs.  Neuropathy in these autonomic nerves often goes unsuspected. 

The following conditions give strong indications of neuropathic origin:

  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) 


Trophic Changes: 
(due to reduced neural stimulation)

  • Localized hair loss
  • Brittle Nails
  • Psoriasis (Abnormal skin)

Muscle/Motor Abnormalities:

  • The most important and widespread features of neuropathic pain.
  • Changes within muscle can be extremely painful (supersensitive nerve receptors in muscle).
  • Shortened muscles can produce mechanical pain by pulling on tendons and joints.

spinal pain

  • The most crucial shortening occurs in paraspinal muscles across a joint space, compressing the disc and sometimes the nerve root.  The significance: neuropathy becomes the primary condition, and the ‘root signs’ are secondary results. 
  • Muscle shortening
  • Muscle contracture
  • Shortened paraspinal muscles
  • Facet Joint Syndrome

READ Dr. Gunn's "Red Book"


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iSTOP's role is transitioning to
UBC Gunn IMS Program – Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
For further information and inquiries please visit:
https://www.gunnims.com/


Our gratitude goes out to all iSTOP legacy members and public donors since 1994.

Thanks to you Gunn intramuscular stimulation information resources are freely available to
the public, for patients & their family members, health advocates, pain researchers and enthusiasts alike.


Gunn IMS "points" the way!


2024 © The Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain ( iSTOP )
Not for Profit Organization
Canadian 
Charity #89159 8575 RR0001



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