Hyperalgesia

Hyperalgesia is a state where the nervous system becomes overly sensitive, causing painful stimuli to feel more intense than usual.

It can be triggered by injury, inflammation or prolonged opioid use. On a cellular level, hyperalgesia is linked to increased excitability of nociceptors and enhanced pain signaling in the spinal cord, often involving glial cell activation and inflammatory mediators. Recognizing hyperalgesia is important, as it may require different treatment strategies, such as reducing opioid doses, targeting central sensitization or using neuromodulation techniques like PRF.