Your nerve system may experience neuropathic pain if it is injured or not functioning properly. Peripheral nerves, the spinal cord, and the brain—all components of the nervous system—can all cause pain.
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nerves are those that supply your organs, arms, legs, fingers, and toes, among other bodily components.
Damaged nerve fibres mistakenly inform pain centres that something is wrong. A nerve injury can alter how the nerve functions both where the injury occurred and in other areas of the central nervous system (central sensitization).
A alteration in the function of one or more nerves is referred to as neuropathy. Diabetes is the root cause of neuropathy in about 30% of cases. Finding the source of the nerve discomfort is not always simple. This kind of discomfort can be brought on by a wide range of diseases.
SIGNALS AND CAUSES
What are a few things that could harm your nerves?
- Diseases that affect the nervous system, such alcoholism, can result in nerve pain.
- Diabetes.
- Issues with the facial nerve.
- AIDS or the HIV virus.
- Conditions affecting the central nervous system (such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke).
- Complex regional pain syndrome.
- Shingles. The term for pain that persists after having shingles is postherpetic neuralgia.
Another factor is chemotherapy medications (cisplatin, paclitaxel, vincristine, etc.).
- Radiation treatment.
Amputation may result in phantom agony.
- Compression or inflammation of the spinal nerves.
- Surgery or trauma that caused nerve injury.
- Tumours that develop into or press against nerves.
Which symptoms indicate neuropathic pain?
Numerous various symptoms could be present if you have neuropathic pain. Among these indications are:
Pain that arises naturally (pain not brought on by anything else): Tingling, numbness, or a “pins and needles” feeling; pain that shoots, burns, stabs or feels like an electric shock.
Pain is induced by sensations that ordinarily do not hurt, such as cold, gentle brushing on the skin, pressure, etc. This condition is known as allodynia. Evoked pain can also refer to pain that is exacerbated by anything that usually hurts, such as heat or a pinprick. This type of pain is referred to as hyperalgesia.
an unpleasant, odd sensation that develops spontaneously or as a result of anything (dysesthesia).
Sleep deprivation and pain can both make it difficult to fall asleep and lead to mental issues.
Possibly less severe pain in response to something painful normally (hypoalgesia).
TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS
How can medical professionals identify neuropathic pain in patients?
Your doctor or nurse will do a physical examination and inquire about your medical history. Your doctor will be able to identify the common symptoms of neuropathic pain if they are aware of or suspect that you have nerve damage. Your doctor will then look for the symptoms and determine what is causing the neuropathy.
THE MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OF
The following are the objectives of treatment: Treat the illness that is the root of the issue (for example, radiation or surgery to shrink a tumour that is pressing on a nerve).
- Relieve discomfort; • Keep everything running.
- Improve the quality of life.
The majority of the time, a combination of medications, physical therapy, counselling, and occasionally surgery is required to address neuropathic pain.
Pregabalin 150 mg and Lyrica 75 mg are two seizure-controlling medications that are frequently prescribed to neuropathic pain sufferers.
Pregabalin, also known as Lyrica®, is a drug.
Doctors also prescribe antidepressants.
It doesn’t necessarily indicate you have seizures or are depressed if your pain expert writes you a prescription for anti-seizure or anti-depressant medication. Although it is true that melancholy or anxiety can exacerbate chronic pain.
You can apply patches, lotions, or ointments containing lidocaine or capsaicin to the sore area. Opioid medicines are less efficient at relieving pain brought on by nerve injury, and using them for an extended period of time may be challenging due to their negative effects.
Additionally, pain experts can administer nerve blocks, which include injecting steroids, local anaesthetics, or other medications directly into the pain-causing nerves.
If the aforementioned treatments haven’t had any success in treating your neuropathic pain, you may want to consider using spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, or brain stimulation.
How will neuropathic pain patients recover?
Although neuropathic pain is difficult to treat, it typically doesn’t endanger your life. Combining rehab with support for your emotional, social, and mental health will yield the best results. You will be able to control your pain to a degree that improves your quality of life with the aid of a pain specialist and any or all of the aforementioned techniques.
