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Neuropathic Pain Guidelines

Neuropathic pain, also known as neuropathy, is pain experienced when a nerve has been injured or damaged. The nerve pain may be short-lived or become chronic depending on the nerve and type of damage. Nerves send pain signals to and from the brain, and when damaged, the nerve signals will malfunction.

  1. Causes

    • Neuropathic pain may be caused by disease such as shingles, diabetes, AIDS and multiple sclerosis. Other conditions contributing to nerve damage include alcoholism, spinal surgery, chemotherapy, back, hip and leg problems and amputation.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of neuropathic pain include tingling, numbness, burning or shooting pains. Pain may come and go or stay for long periods of time. A pinch may feel like a stabbing pain or you may feel pain from something as soft as a feather or a cool breeze. Feeling sensations may also be compromised and include not feeling intense heat or cold.

    Diagnosis

    • Your doctor will examine painful areas and ask questions regarding the type of pain experienced. He may ask for blood tests to see if an underlying condition such as diabetes is causing nerve damage.

    Medications

    • Treatment for neuropathic pain will include treating the disease if that is the cause for nerve damage, or by treating the symptoms as there is no cure for neuropathy. Anti-convulsants such as Lyrica and Neurontin have been prescribed for nerve pain. The drugs intercept pain signals from the brain and can improve sleep and remove pain. Tricylic anti-depressants such as Elavil have been prescribed to help with nerve pain and depression. Prescription pain relievers may be prescribed for short-term use only because of risk of dependence.

    Injections

    • A nerve block injection is a shot of anesthetic in or around the injured nerve area. This type of treatment blocks pain messages from the brain. Pain medications may be delivered directly into the spine with a series of injections or continuously by an implanted pump.

    Surgery

    • Surgery for neuropathic pain may include surgical decompression which involves removing tissue that is compressing a nerve. Spinal cord stimulation involves a surgeon inserting a small wire near the spinal cord. The wire is connected to a device that will send small amounts of electricity to damaged nerves blocking pain signals to the brain.

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