Living with nerve pain can be a long-term proposition. Some neuropathic pain gets better with treatment or on its own, but that can take months or years. Other nerve pain stays the same for years or worsens slowly. Some nerve pain can’t be reversed. Your doctor can help you identify and treat your neuropathic pain with the best available therapies. But there are also plenty of things you can do on your own to take care of yourself and your…
Neuropathy, also called peripheral neuropathy, is a condition caused by nerve damage. Neuropathy can affect movement, sensation (e.g., temperature, pain, touch), and functions, such as breathing and digestion. Peripheral neuropathy can occur with no known cause, but the disorder often is associated with diabetes (called diabetic neuropathy) and other medical conditions. Neuropathy can result in neuropathic pain and chronic numbness, tingling, and weakness. Here are some questions to ask your doctor (e.g., neurologist) about peripheral neuropathy. Print this page, mark…
Sciatica is a common type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve, a large nerve extending from the lower back down the back of each leg. What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica? Common symptoms of sciatica include: Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting Burning or tingling down the leg Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot A constant pain on one side of the rear A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand…
Neuralgia is pain in one or more nerves that occurs without stimulation of pain receptor (nociceptor) cells. Neuralgia pain is produced by a change in neurological structure or function rather than by the excitation of pain receptors that causes nociceptive pain. Neuralgia falls into two categories: central neuralgia and peripheral neuralgia. This unusual pain is thought to be linked to four possible mechanisms: ion gate malfunctions; the nerve becomes mechanically sensitive and creates an ectopic signal; cross signals between large…
Pain originating in the face, or elsewhere, may be caused by an injury, an infection in a structure of the face, a nerve disorder, or it may occur for no known reason. Some common causes of facial pain include: Abscessed tooth (a condition in which a tooth is surrounded by inflammation and pus) Sinus infection Sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses) Injury to the face TMJ disorders (TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, or the jaw joint) Trigeminal neuralgia (described below) What…
Arachnoiditis is a pain disorder caused by the inflammation of the arachnoid, one of the membranes that surround and protect the nerves of the spinal cord. It is characterized by severe stinging, “burning pain,” and neurological problems. Symptoms Arachnoiditis has no consistent pattern of symptoms, but in many people it affects the nerves connecting to the lower back and legs. The most common symptom is pain; but, arachnoiditis can also cause: · Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs · …
Neuropathy is a disease that damages the nerves and causes them to function abnormally. The pain caused by the damage, dysfunction and/or injury of the nerve tissue is called neuropathic pain. Because nerve fibers exist throughout the body in complex networks, finding the source of the neuropathic pain and getting the proper treatment can de difficult. Neuropathic pain can be the result of any of the following types of neuropathy: autonomic neuropathy, which affects the nerves of the body that…
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy? Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nervous system which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body. These are the nerves that sense pain, touch, hot, and cold. They also affect movement and muscle strength. The nerves in the feet and lower legs are most often affected. This type of nerve damage can lead to serious foot problems. The damage usually gets worse slowly, over months or years….
Peripheral neuropathy can be broadly categorized by the type of nerve that has been damaged. The peripheral nervous system is made up of three types of nerves: motor nerves (responsible for voluntary movement) sensory nerves (responsible for sensing temperature, pain, touch, and limb positioning); including large and small fibers autonomic nerves (responsible for involuntary functions such as breathing, blood pressure, sexual function, digestion) Peripheral neuropathy also can be classified by where it occurs in the body. Nerve damage that occurs…
If you have nerve pain, you know that it can take many forms: burning, tingling, electricity, and pins-and-needles are a few of the ways people describe the sensation. But if you have no idea what’s causing the pain, you’re not alone. Millions of people have unexplained nerve pain. While traditional medicine can offer some relief, there are a number of other ways to lessen the pain. Known Causes of Nerve Pain Nerve pain is caused by damage to the nerve….
