Neuropathic pain arises after damage to or dysfunction to the nervous system. The discomfort might arise from any level of the nervous system – peripheral nerves, brain and spinal cord. The pain centers obtain the wrong signals from the impaired nerve fibers. In most cases, the nerve function might alter at the area of nerve damage as well as areas in the central nervous system.
It is easy to pinpoint the root of neuropathic pain. There are various ailments that are associated to this type of pain.
Some sources of neuropathic pain
- Amputation
- Alcoholism
- Shingles
Spontaneous pain that can be described as burning, shooting, stabbing or “pins and needles” sensation. - Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Facial nerve issues
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Diabetes
- HIV or AIDS
- Nerve compression
- Spinal nerve compression
- Central nervous system disorders
- Trauma or surgical procedures that results to nerve damage
Indications
Various symptoms might be present when it comes to neuropathic pain such as:
- Spontaneous pain that can be described as burning, shooting, stabbing or “pins and needles” sensation
- Evoked pain which is triggered by non-painful stimuli such as pressure, cold or gentle brushing against the skin.
- Pain that might be lessened in response to a normally painful stimulus
- Abnormal, unpleasant sensation whether evoked or spontaneous
- Difficulty sleeping
- Emotional issues due to the pain and disrupted sleep
Management
The objective of treatment includes:
- Dealing with the underlying disease
- Pain relief
- Improving the quality of life
- Maintain functionality
A multimodal approach is generally required to manage neuropathic pain.
The medications usually prescribed include anti-seizure drugs. In some cases, antidepressants might be prescribed as well.
A cream or ointment or even a topical patch can be used on the sore area. In some instances, opioid analgesics can provide brief relief.
Nerve blocks might also be used to deal with the pain including the injections of steroids, local anesthetics or medications into the involved nerves.
If neuropathic pain does not seem to respond to these therapies, the doctor might suggest spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation and even brain stimulation.