Microneurography is the only neurophysiological technique that records neuronal activity directly from nerves in awake patients. Recording from nociceptive fibres provides unrivalled insight into peripheral neuronal activity and how it can relate to chronic neuropathic pain. The unmyelinated nociceptive fibres, tested by microneurography, are not assessed by conventional nerve conduction studies and are important for sensing pain. Nociceptive fibres are heterogenous, they show different stimulus-response functions and some are mechanically-insensitive in the naive state. We still have an incomplete understanding of which nociceptive afferent population and which activity is the key driver of neuropathic pain. Microneurography has the potential to answer these fundamental questions. The application of microneurography to the study of neuropathic pain is under-utilised. We believe that these techniques should be adopted more widely by the neuropathic pain field

 

In our workshop we will provide an introduction to microneurography, and show how this technique can provide new insights into our understanding of neuropathic pain and sensory nerve function.