What is neuropathic pain?
Neuropathic pain is a neurological disorder in which people experience severe chronic pain because a nerve is damaged. It arises from the presence of an injury or disease of the peripheral or central nervous system. Neuropathy can exist without pain, just as pain can exist without evidence of nerve injury. Neuropathic pain, therefore, can be defined as an unpleasant sensation or emotional experience associated with nervous system dysfunction or injury.
What are the symptoms?
This pain usually causes numbness and pain in the hands and feet, as well as tingling or burning. Along with neuropathic pain, different symptoms may appear such as:
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Lack of appetite
- Anxiety
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Mouth discomfort
- Sharp pain or pins and needles sensation
Causes of neuropathic pain or why it occurs
Peripheral neuropathic pain, or chronic neuropathic pain, is the result of damage to the peripheral nerves. This damage can be the result of:
- Nutritional imbalances
- Alcoholism
- Toxins
- Infections
- Autoimmunity
- Diseases, such as kidney failure or cancer
- Nerve trauma
What is the treatment?
Treatment may vary from case to case.
- Medication: The first thing that specialists recommend is to carry out a pharmacological treatment.
- Physiotherapy: it tries to reconstitute the muscles so that they can move normally and with less pain.
- Psychological therapy: pain can cause stress in the patient. This therapy helps the patient to manage the pain.
- Corrective surgery
- Therapeutic nerve blocks: these are local anesthetics or steroid injections administered at the source of the pain.
- Medical devices: modulate pain signals before reaching the brain.
- Neuroablation: usually performed when other treatments have failed.