An Overview Of Neuropathic Pain
An overview of neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain, also known as nerve pain, a broad terms used for a wide range of pain conditions that are caused because of changes or injury to the nerves. The common sensations are a range of pains from stabbing to tingling sensations. The impact of neuropathic pain, the area of the body it affects, and its severity vary from one person to another. A common neuropathic pain condition is peripheral neuropathy.
In peripheral neuropathy, the nerves apart from the ones in the central nervous system are affected.
Below is some information about the causes of nerve pain, symptoms, and more.
What causes neuropathic pain?
The cause of neuropathic pain varies from one person to another. Some of the common causes of neuropathic pain are:
- Accidents – Tissue, muscle, or joint injury caused because of accidents can cause neuropathic pain. The nerve pain occurs when the injury heals, but the nerve damage doesn’t and individuals continue experiencing pain for many years after their accident.
- Surgery – An amputated limb after surgery causes neuropathic pain. Despite the loss of the limb, the brain continues receiving pain signals from the amputated body part. It occurs because the nerves near the amputation misfire and they send faulty signals.
- Disease – A number of diseases and health conditions, including cancer, myeloma, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, are known to cause neuropathic pain.
- Infection – Infections are also believed to cause neuropathic pain in people. For example, those suffering from HIV or AIDS, syphilis infection, chicken pox, etc. experience unexplained pain every now and then.
- Other causes – Some other causes of neuropathic pain include chemotherapy, nerve or spinal cord compression caused by herniated discs or arthritis, thyroid problem, and vitamin B deficiency.
What are the symptoms of neuropathic pain?
The following symptoms are some of the common symptoms of nerve pain:
- Shooting, burning, or stabbing pain.
- Pins and needles feeling.
- An unusual pain that occurs without a trigger.
- Pain caused by non-painful events, such as brushing hair or a rub against something.
- Difficulty in sleeping or resting.
- Emotional problems due to loss of sleep.
What are the types of neuropathic pain?
The common types of neuropathic pain are:
- Sciatica – This type of neuropathic pain is a result of irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. It is the largest nerve in the body and the pain is felt from the lower back to behind the thigh and down toward the knee. The pinched nerve pain treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of the pain.
- Diabetic neuropathy – Nerve pain is common amongst those suffering from diabetes and the treatment includes managing blood sugar levels.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as median nerve compression, involves a pinched nerve in the wrist that causes numbness and pain in the hand. Non-surgical pinched nerve treatment can cure this pain if diagnosed early.
- Post-herpetic neuralgia – The post-herpetic neuralgia refers to the neuropathic pain that people continue to experience long after the shingles have subsided.
- Central pain syndrome – Nerve pain caused by stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, tumors, spinal cord trauma, or Parkinson’s disease.
What are the treatment options for neuropathic pain?
- Often the first line of treatment for neuropathic pain is the use of antidepressant and anticonvulsant medicines.
- As per research, using the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Motrin or Aleve may ease nerve pain. However, some individuals may require a stronger painkiller.
- If the neuropathic pain is caused by another condition like diabetes, better management of the health condition may help in relieving the nerve pain. Also, effective management of the health condition may also help in preventing further damage to the nerves.
- In some cases, which are difficult to treat, a pain specialist may make use of an implantable or invasive device to manage pain in an effective manner.
- Electrical stimulation of the nerves involved in the nerve pain may also help control the painful symptoms of this condition.
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