Many people associate neuropathy pain with pain in the hands and feet. Neurological pain can happen anywhere nerves are present, including in the back, arms, legs, and even throughout the body. This type of pain can have many causes and it can be difficult to determine and treat. These sections provide an overview of the complex medical condition.
What is Neuropathic Pain?
Neuropathic pain refers to pain that results from nerve damage. The National Institutes of Health estimates that between 7-10% of the population experience neurotic pain. Pain is caused by injury to or damage of peripheral nerves, brain and/or spinal cord. These are the three components of the nervous system.
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The nerves that are located all over the body are called peripheral nerves. They can be found in the arms and legs, feet, toes, fingers, and other organs. The central nervous system or damaged nerves may cause neuropathic pain. A disturbance in one or several nerves can cause the pain.
Neuropathic pain symptoms
The severity of neuropathic pain can vary and it is unique to each individual. It could be nerve pain throughout the body, nerve pain in the arms and legs, or nerve pain only in the feet.
These are the most common symptoms.
- Nerve pain from burning
- Agonizing pain
- Electric-like sensation
- Touch Sensitivity
- Pins and Needles Pain
- Tingling
- Numbness and weakness that is usually felt in the legs
- Temperature sensing problems
It is not easy to diagnose the cause of pain because of the many expressions of pain.
Neuropathic Pain: What Causes It?
What causes nerve pain? There are many causes of nerve pain. Any damage to nerves or nerves could lead to neurological problems. Peripheral nervepathy refers to damage to nerves that are not located in the brain or spinal cord. These are the main causes of neuropathic discomfort.
- A ruptured disk, carpal tunnel syndrome, or other cause can lead to nerve compression.
- Spinal cord injuries
- Multiple sclerosis, diabetes and cancer are all possible.
- For any reason, disruptions in pain signals between the spinal cord and brain
- A stroke can cause peripheral nerve injury.
- Nerve-damaging medications
- Chemotherapy is a treatment.
- Inflammation
- Infection
Sometimes the cause of pain is not obvious, which can make it difficult to treat.
It is quite common to experience nerve back pain. The cause of neuropathic pain in the back could be a herniated or degenerated disk or injury to the spinal disc. Extreme shooting pain can result from neuropathic pain that originates from the spinal nerves. This type of pain is known as sciatica pain.
Management of Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain can be treated with a combination doctor-ordered and self-care. To determine the cause of neuropathic symptoms, the doctor may order medical tests. These tests will help determine the best way to manage neuropathic pain. The management plan will incorporate both self-care and medical approaches.
The following are some current methods of managing neuropathic discomfort.
- Physical Therapy
- Exercise
- Massage
- Medications
- Epidural injections
- Neurostimulation
This article was written by a medical professional at Florida Medical Pain Management. Florida Medical Pain Management is proud to offer Pain Management in Spring Hill FL to a diverse group of patients. Patients at Florida Medical Pain Management can get help managing hip, knee, leg, and neck pain. The practice also offers comprehensive arthritis management, along with treatments for auto accidents, sports, and work injuries.
