Nerve pain is a condition that affects the nerves that carry pain signals to the brain. It is also known as neuralgia and neuropathic pain.
Nerve pain can be caused by disease or injury to the nerves that carry information from the muscles, skin, and other parts of the body, to the brain and spinal cord.
Nerve pain is one of the most challenging pain issues to treat. When doctors cannot find a specific reason for nerve pain, it is called idiopathic neuropathy. Pain management of nerve pain aims to reduce pain, address its impact on your life, and resolve any lingering issues.
Our expert team of doctors at NY Neurology Associates is dedicated to providing the best treatment for their patients. By taking the time to understand your unique situation, we will be able to create a treatment plan that can effectively help relieve your pain.
Schedule an appointment with our skilled doctors today for pain management at one of our offices in New York. We know what it takes to help you get your life back on track!
Types of Nerve Pain
There are different types of nerve pain. The following list includes some of the different kinds of nerve pain you may experience.
- Post-herpetic: After a bout of shingles (herpes zoster), you can have nerve pain in the same area where the shingles rash occurred.
- Occipital: The pain starts at the base of your skull and can spread to the back of your head.
- Trigeminal: The pain is felt in your jaw or cheeks.
- Phantom pain: Also known as phantom limb pain, this pain can occur in the area of an amputated limb.
- Pudendal: The pain is felt between the legs, in the area of your pelvis and buttocks.
What Causes Nerve Pain?
Nerve pain usually indicates a problem with either the central nervous system or the peripheral nerves that connect the spinal cord to the muscles and organs. It is usually caused by nerve damage or disease. Some possible causes of neuropathic pain include the items in the following list.
- Diabetes (including diabetic neuropathy)
- HIV/AIDS
- Celiac disease
- Alcohol and drug use
- Lyme disease
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Medications and chemotherapy
- Injury or trauma
- High blood pressure
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sciatica and other chronic spinal column abnormalities
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Fibromyalgia
- Strokes
Symptoms of Nerve Pain
There are several symptoms associated with neuropathic pain. The following list contains some of the symptoms of neuropathic pain.
- General pain: Neuropathic pain can cause a shooting or stabbing pain, or you may have a burning sensation. The pain can come on suddenly and feel like an electric shock. People with neuropathic pain often find the pain worsens at night.
- Increased sensitivity: You are likely to be very sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. Even lightly brushing your skin could feel painful.
- Depression or anxiety: Dealing with chronic pain can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety.
- Disruption to your daily routine: Chronic neuropathic pain can interfere with important parts of life, such as sleep, work, sex, and exercise.
How Is Nerve Pain Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of neuropathic pain will include a physical examination and consideration of your medical history. The physical examination will test your nerves by checking your reflexes, muscle strength, and sensitivity to touch.
Your doctor may also order other tests to be carried out in order to identify the cause of your neuropathic pain. Tests for neuropathic pain may include the following:
- Blood tests: To identify any potential underlying causes
- Nerve conduction studies: To measure the speed of electrical signals through the nerves
- MRI or CT scans: To see if anything is obstructing the nerves
How Nerve Pain Is Treated
There are many things that can be done to treat neuropathic pain. The first step in treating nerve pain is identifying the underlying cause. Once a root cause is identified, that issue can be treated, allowing patients to begin feeling relief again.
Unidentifiable nerve pain can also be treated through pain management techniques and treatments. Pain management to reduce nerve pain can include:
- Medications to manage symptoms
- Therapeutic nerve blocks to directly address affected nerves
- Injections in trigger points, dorsal roots, or peripheral nerves to provide pain relief
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Physical therapy
Discover Nerve Pain Relief Today!
Our doctors at NY Neurology Associates are dedicated to providing the best treatment for their patients. We have helped many individuals find relief from their nerve pain by using the latest treatments available.
Schedule an appointment today to learn more about pain management at one of our offices in New York. Our experienced doctors look forward to helping you!