Paincare Florida

Nerve Pain

PAIN CONDITION

Non-Injury Related Nerve Pain: Causes, Treatment & Pain Relief

Nerve pain results from damaged or malfunctioning nerve fibers sending incorrect signals to your pain centers. Approximately 20 million people in the US are living with nerve pain due to peripheral neuropathy.[1] This type of pain stems from issues within the nerves that carry pain signals to the brain, triggered by medical conditions or lifestyle choices rather than injury.

About Nerve Damage Pain

Nerve pain, also known as neuropathic pain or neuralgia, occurs when your nerves are damaged or irritated due to a disease or disorder.[2] Most patients describe it as sharp, stabbing, tingling or burning sensations. Symptoms may vary in intensity and stress, caffeine, temperature changes and poor sleep may worsen nerve pain.

Pain is the body’s warning system. For example, when your hand gets close to something hot, your nerves set off an alarm in your brain to take your hand away before you get hurt. Neuropathic pain happens when your nervous system is malfunctioning or damaged and is sending pain messages in the absence of a pain source.[2] Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common types of nerve pain, but other conditions like shingles, HIV/AIDS, stroke or MS can cause it, too.[2]

Neuropathic Nerve Pain Symptoms

Symptoms may vary from person to person, but most people agree that nerve pain makes everyday activities challenging. Some symptoms occur spontaneously, with no direct cause.[2]

According to the Cleveland Clinic, neuropathic pain symptoms may include one or more of the following:

  • Spontaneous pain (sensation without a trigger)
  • Burning sensations
  • Stabbing or shooting pain
  • Electric shock-like pain
  • Tingling
  • Numbness or “pins and needles”
  • Emotional stress and loss of sleep (insomnia)
  • Strange, unpleasant sensations (dysesthesia)
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch (allodynia)
  • Increased pain sensation to painful stimuli (hyperalgesia)
  • Decreased pain response to painful stimuli (hypoalgesia)

Nerve Pain Causes

Nerve pain has many causes besides physical injury, including medical conditions and lifestyle factors such as:

  • Diabetes [2]
  • Alcohol use disorder [2]
  • HIV/AIDS [2]
  • Shingles (acute nerve pain)[2]
  • Stroke [2]
  • Parkinson’s disease [2]
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) [2]
  • Complex regional pain syndrome [2]
  • Chemotherapy and chemo medications [2]
  • Radiation therapy [2]
  • Phantom limb pain (amputation) [2]
  • Surgery [2]
  • Spinal nerve compression or inflammation [2]
  • Tumors pressing on nerves [2]
  • Vitamin B deficiency [3]
  • Trigeminal neuralgia [3]
  • Postherpetic neuralgia (chronic nerve pain)[3]
  • Thyroid issues [3]

Pinched nerves (radiculopathy) can be misdiagnosed as neuropathy due to similar symptoms, such as pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.[4]

Pain Management Treatments

Managing nerve pain can be challenging. While identifying and treating the underlying cause is ideal, many cases of neuropathy aren’t curable, so long-term pain management becomes the focus. A comprehensive approach can make a tremendous difference for patients living with nerve pain.

Certain medications, like antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and pain relievers, help manage both nerve pain and its emotional impact. Lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise, managing blood sugar, reducing stress, eating well, and quitting smoking or drinking, can also help. Alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques may offer additional relief.

For chronic or severe nerve pain, advanced treatments can provide longer-lasting results. Options like nerve blocks can interrupt pain signals, while interventional therapies such as spinal cord stimulation, trigger point injections, pain pumps, and radiofrequency ablation effectively target nerve pain. Regenerative medicine options, like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, may also benefit some patients.

When to Consult a Nerve Pain Care Specialist

Chronic nerve pain is best managed in a multidisciplinary pain clinic that addresses the physical and emotional impacts. If nerve pain is disrupting your daily life, sleep, or ability to enjoy activities, it’s time to consult a nerve pain specialist. Your pain specialist can identify the root cause of your pain and work with you to create a customized plan that targets your symptoms and lifestyle needs.

Pain management clinics offer the most advanced and effective therapies available to relieve painful sensations. By working closely with your medical team, you can build a treatment plan that helps you manage your neuropathic pain—both now and in the future.

Resources:

  1. Elafros M, Callaghan B. Neuropathy common, and primarily undiagnosed, among patients in this Michigan city. University of Michigan – Institue for Healthcare Policy & Innovation [Internet]. Accessed November 12, 2024. Available from: https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/neuropathy-common-and-mostly-undiagnosed-among-patients-michigan-city
  2. Neuropathic Pain. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Published 2015. Accessed November 12, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15833-neuropathic-pain
  3. Holland K. What You Should Know About Neuropathic Pain. Healthline [Internet]. Published December 18, 2017. Accessed November 12, 2024. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/neuropathic-pain
  4. Radiculopathy. Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library [Internet]. Published 2019. Accessed November 12, 2024. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/radiculopathy
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