--can resultin some of the worst pain known to humans. Damage in the thalamus, which is primarily a sensory relay center, can result in pain sensations anywhere in the the body, depending on which sensory tracts are damaged. The pain is not only often severe but burning and dysethetic in nature.

This condition, often referred to as Central Pain Syndrome (as well as Dejerine-Roussy syndrome), can also result from multiple sclerosis that attacks the area, as well as some other common events, such as the combined degeneration of severe B12 deficiency.

See:

centralpain.org

http://centralpainsyndromefoundation.com/