Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain that stems from nervous system damage or dysfunction. When a nerve fiber is damaged, it can send the wrong signals to your body’s pain centers. You can feel neuropathic pain at the site of the nerve damage, in surrounding areas, and often in other areas of your central nervous system.Your nerves transmit electrical signals from your body to your brain, and when they get damaged they can send near-constant pain signals even if you’re not injured.Neuropathic pain, or neuropathy, is often described as burning, tingling, stabbing, or shooting pain. There is sensitivity to cold temperatures and touch and sometimes an unpleasant sensation on or under the skin. Patients complain of trouble sleeping which results in emotional problems. It can seriously erode your quality of life. And unfortunately, it’s often difficult to diagnose and treat.
There are a variety of other reasons why someone can have Neuropathy pain which includes:
- Diabetes
- Alcoholism
- Amputation (causing phantom pain)
- Arthritis in the spine
- Herniated discs
- Central nervous system disorders such as strokes and Parkinson’s disease
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Radiation therapy
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Facial nerve problems
- HIV infection or AIDS
- Syphilis
- Multiple myeloma
- Multiple sclerosis
- Nerve or spinal cord compression
- Spine surgery
- Thyroid problems
- Trauma or surgeries with resulting nerve damage
- Vitamin deficiencies
Treatment options for neuropathic pain vary depending on the type of pain you have and your diagnosis. Different treatment regimens are needed for different pain mechanisms, thereby a mechanism-based treatment approach would result in efficient analgesia. Main goals are to provide relief from the pain, restore functionality, and treat the underlying cause of the pain. There are many approaches that a provider may try, including:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Aleve or Motrin, for short-term pain relief
- Topical treatments, such as lidocaine or High concentration capsaicin patches, creams, or ointments, applied directly to the painful area
- Nerve blocks, including steroid injections directly into the affected nerves
- Anticonvulsant drugs such as gabapentin, pregabalin and topiramate to help reduce symptoms
- Nutritional supplements
- Better management of any instigating conditions, such as diabetes; strict glycemic control is very important.
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
- Implanting a special device to electrically stimulate affected nerves such as spinal cord stimulation.
Neuropathic pain is persistent, but that doesn’t mean it has to control your life. There are many different ways we can try to help.
