Types of Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain that results from nerve damage, often following an infection, disease, injury or medication. Patients describe neuropathic pain as a spontaneous burning, tingling, shooting or shock-like pain. They often experience an exaggerated pain response to normally painless stimuli. Neuropathic pain is difficult to treat and may persist indefinitely.

Postherpetic Neuralgia

• Postherpetic neuralgia is neuropathic pain that continues after reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

• Trigeminal neuralgia is pain in the nerves responsible for facial sensation. Patients with trigeminal neuralgia experience periods of facial pain alternating with pain-free periods. It may be one-sided, or occur on both sides of the face.

HIV-Associated Neuropathy

• HIV-associated neuropathy affects approximately half of HIV-infected patients. It has a wide range of symptoms, but usually involves chronic pain of the hands and feet.

Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

• Painful diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes involving a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and peripheral sensory nerves. Painful diabetic neuropathy is most often manifested in the lower extremities.

Other Types of Neuropathic Pain

• Neuropathic pain is also associated with many medical conditions and chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, traumatic injury, stroke, cancer, limb amputation and carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as certain medications.