Neuropathic Pain

What is neuropathic pain?

Neuropathic pain refers to pain that results from disease or damage to the sensory nerves found in your peripheral or central nervous system. It’s a chronic condition that leads to alterations in the way the nerve sends signals to your brain, which may lead to symptoms such as:

• Sharp, shooting pain
• Burning
• Hypersensitivity
• Tingling or numbness
• Itching
• Weakness

The symptoms caused by neuropathic pain depend on the nerve that has damage. 

What causes neuropathic pain?

Neuropathic pain may develop when a nerve in your central or peripheral nervous system gets compressed, pinched, trapped, or damaged by disease. Common types of neuropathic pain include:

Entrapment neuropathy

Entrapment neuropathy refers to a nerve that’s trapped or pinched and may occur in your neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, lower leg, or foot. Carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome are examples of entrapment neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy first develops in the longest nerves of the body in a “glove and stocking” distribution to the hands and feet. Peripheral neuropathy may be due to a hereditary condition or result from a viral infection, liver disease, diabetes, or vascular disease.

Phantom limb pain

Phantom limb pain occurs in some people after the amputation of their arm or leg. 

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)

PHN is a type of nerve pain that develops from herpes zoster, a viral infection you may know better as shingles. 

Post-traumatic neuropathy

Post-traumatic neuropathy refers to nerve pain that develops after an injury or surgery.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN)

TN causes severe pain in the face and jaw, usually only on one side.

Whatever the type or cause, if you’re suffering from neuropathic pain, Republic Spine and Pain can provide the help you need. 

What are the treatments for neuropathic pain?

The pain specialists at Republic Spine and Pain develop individualized treatment plans for the management of neuropathic pain based on the cause, location, and the severity of your symptoms. Your treatment plan may include:

• Stress management
• Physical therapy
• Activity modification
• Use of supportive devices
• Prescription medication

If you fail to get relief from your neuropathic pain with conservative treatments, your doctor may suggest radiofrequency nerve ablation, which is a minimally invasive procedure that ablates (burns) the nerve to stop pain signal to your brain. They may also suggest a spinal cord stimulator, which is a device that gets placed in your back or abdomen and transmits an electrical signal to your spinal cord that alters the pain signal to modify the pain sensation. 

For a neuropathic pain consultation, call Republic Spine and Pain or click the online booking button today.