Methods are provided to reliably identify and surgically eradicate
aberrant DREZ in patients suffering from spinal cord injury. The methods
include identifying potential aberrant DREZ using a combination of
mapping techniques based on the location of the patients perceived pain,
analysis of the spontaneous electrical hyperactivity in targeted DREZ,
and analysis of evoked transcutaneous C-fiber stimulation both in
pre-operative and operative conditions. Methods are also provided for
identifying potential pain effecters in aberrant DREZ, useful in the
preparation of non-invasive therapeutics for central pain characteristic
of spinal cord injury.