Definition of Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain that can be complicated to diagnose. There are wide arrays of potential origins, but many possibilities must be considered prior to confirming a diagnosis of this sort. The pain may continue even after the ailment has been eradicated. This is because it is a pain that is closely tied to the psychological state of the individual.

Possible Causes

• Possible causes of neuropathic pain include, but are not limited to, tissue injury, spine surgery, chemotherapy, diabetes, amputation, HIV, carpal tunnel syndrome, alcoholism, shingles, multiple sclerosis, any number of nerve problems or dysfunctions within the nervous system, and spine surgery.

Symptoms

• Neuropathic pain includes symptoms such as numbness, burning, tingling and sometimes pain disproportionate with the condition or of the amount of tissue damage.

Detection

• A neurological examination of neuropathic pain sufferers usually shows that there are signs of nerve damage.

Considerations

• For pain to be diagnosed as neuropathic, there must be no sign of any other possible causes for this pain.

Treatment

• Due to the psychological nature of this ailment, neuropathic pain can only be aided with a treatment plan that includes both physical and psychological rehabilitative efforts.