What can cause Neuropathic Pain?

This type of pain is triggered by damage or dysfunction in the nerves of the somatosensory system, which are responsible for transmitting sensory information like touch, temperature, and pain.

• Alcohol use
• Diabetes
• Shingles
• Complex regional pain Syndrome
• Facial nerve conditions
• Stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
• Chemotherapy Drugs
• Radiation
• Amputation
• Trauma or surgeries
• Tumors

Conditions where Neuropathic Pain can occur?

Peripheral neuropathy: Damage to peripheral nerves (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord).

Trigeminal neuralgia: Severe pain in the face, often in the jaw or cheek.

Postherpetic neuralgia: Pain that persists after a shingles infection.

Central post-stroke pain: Pain that arises after a stroke.

How is Neuropathic Pain diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will review your medical history and do a physical exam. Then they’ll try to find the underlying cause.

Nerve function tests: nerve conduction study (NCS), electromyography (EMG).

Blood Tests: to identify diabetes or vitamin deficiency.

MRI or CT Scans: help identify nerve compression, tumors, or other structural problems.

Skin Biopsy: to assess the number of nerve endings.

Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST): measures the perception of controlled stimuli to assess sensory function.

What are the symptoms of Neuropathic Pain?

Neuropathic pain can present in various ways, including:

• Spontaneous pain: Pain that occurs without any apparent cause.
• Burning, shooting, or electric-shock like pain: Intense and often debilitating sensations.
• Numbness or tingling: A loss of sensation or a pins-and-needles feeling.
• Extreme sensitivity to touch: Even light touch can cause pain.

What can trigger Neuropathic Pain or make it worse?

Neuropathic pain, or nerve pain, can be triggered by various factors, including injuries, diseases like diabetes and shingles, infections, alcohol abuse, certain medications, and toxin exposure, as well as conditions like multiple sclerosis and cancer. Alcohol, anxiety and depression can make neuropathic pain worse.

How is Neuropathic Pain managed?

Treatment is aimed at treating any underlying disease, provide pain relief, maintain function and improve your quality of life. In most cases, you’ll need a combination of treatments to manage neuropathic pain.

Medications: such as over-the-counter pain relievers (ibuprofen, paracetamol); antidepressants or anti-epileptic drugs; topical treatments; nerve blocks.

Physical therapy: helps relieve soreness, stiffness and discomfort that results from neuropathic pain. It can also encourage your body to produce more natural pain-relieving chemicals. Physical therapy may include various types of massage and exercise.

Psychological counselling: can help you cope with the emotional stress of neuropathic pain.

Surgery: can help ease neuropathic pain symptoms. A surgeon may be able to release, repair or even remove certain nerves to reduce or eliminate pain.

Other ways to manage neuropathic pain:

• Stop smoking
• Limit intake of alcohol
• Eat lot of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins
• If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar level closely and take extra care of our fee