Nerve pain is defined as sharp or burning pain that goes along a nerve. Although it can occur everywhere across the body, it is most common in the feet and legs (Leg Pain).
It is commonly caused by a nerve injury, inflammation, or a problem with the nervous system. Another word for nerve pain is neuralgia (pronounced noo-RAL-jah).
Nerve pain can be sporadic or chronic, lasting several weeks, months, or even years. When it's there, even a light touch might be painful. This might disrupt a person's daily behaviors, such as sleeping, and lead to depression or anxiety.
What Are the Different Types of Nerve Pain?
Nerves connect the brain. They express their pain by sending messages. Damaged nerves cause stabbing pain and tingling.
You will feel agony within seconds of sustaining a knife cut to your finger (Finger agony). This is due to thousands of nerves sending pain signals to the brain. Danger equals suffering. When we feel discomfort, we stop doing whatever is causing it.
The nerve message system, on the other hand, fails in people who have had a nerve injury. In the absence of clear stimulation, the nerves send out erroneous signals, resulting in pain. The two most common causes of nerve discomfort are nerve injury and disease.
1.) Nerve Damage
After a physical damage, nerve pain spreads. Anything that compresses, slices, pinches, or crushes peripheral nerves might irreversibly destroy them. Nerves in the periphery are sensitive and easily damaged.
Back injuries that cause nerve damage might occur on the job. The occupations with the highest rate of nerve injury are:
- Personnel working at the warehouse
- Construction workers
- Nursing home employees and nurses
- Dentists and surgeons
- Landscaping, gardening, and farming
- Carpenters and plumbers
- Personnel working on the assembly line
- Mechanics
Athletes sustain the bulk of nerve injuries. High-contact sports, such as football, wrestling, hockey, and basketball, are the leading causes of peripheral nerve injury.
2.) Nerve Disorders
Many chronic disorders and diseases can cause nerve damage and discomfort. Nerve damage caused by degenerative disc degeneration causes discomfort in the lower back and neck.
When an intervertebral disc shifts and presses on nerves, it causes widespread tingling or discomfort.
Cancerous tumors can strain against nerves. In response to the pressure, the nerve sends a pain signal. The majority of cancer patients report feeling stabbed, squeezed, or scorched.
Diabetic neuropathy is the result of nerve damage caused by diabetes. Excessive blood sugar damage nerves, causing erroneous signals to be relayed to the brain. The majority of people suffer numbness and tingling in their legs and feet.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Nerve Pain?
Nerve injury can cause a variety of symptoms. The symptoms are determined by the etiology of the nerve damage and which nerves are affected.
Damage to various types of nerves can cause a variety of symptoms.
Peripheral Nerve Damage Symptoms
- Foot pain when walking or engaged in other daily activities is caused by peripheral neuropathy.
- Coordination and balance issues
- Tremor in the muscles
- Pains that are scorching or stabbing
- Feeling as if you should be wearing gloves or socks but aren't Peripheral
neuropathy can also cause an increase in skin sensitivity to touch. Though symptoms typically begin in the hands and feet, they can also affect a person's arms and legs.
Autonomic Nerve Damage Symptoms
Autonomic nerves send messages to internal organs. They have been found in the stomach (Stomach Pain), liver, kidneys, bladder, lungs, and blood vessels, among other places.
Autonomic nerve system injuries cause problems with the colon, bladder, and digestive systems. The nerve injury could cause fluctuations in blood pressure or vertigo. Some people cannot sweat, sweat excessively, or are heat sensitive.
Motor Nerve Damage Symptoms
Motor nerves control movements and actions. They send info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles.
Damage to the motor neurons causes fasciculation, muscle atrophy, and weakness. In some cases, a motor nerve damage might result in paralysis.
Sensory Nerve Damage Symptoms
Afferent nerves, often known as sensory nerves, transmit sensory information to the central nervous system (CNS). In response to internal or external stimuli, these nerves produce sensory reactions (such as taste and smell).
Sensory nerve damage causes dimming of the senses. A person's ability to taste or smell things may be deteriorating. Sensory nerve loss can also cause numbness, burning, and prickling feelings throughout the body.
The most accurate diagnosis and tests
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. They could also do:
- A blood test is required.
- A sort of nerve examination is an EMG (electromyography).
- A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the spine or brain.
What Is the Treatment for Nerve Pain?
Treatment for nerve pain caused by disorders such as diabetes or cancer must focus on healing the underlying condition. Nerve pain and discomfort can be alleviated by addressing the underlying cause.
However, sometimes treating a medical problem may not reverse nerve damage. Patients in these situations require specialized therapy for nerve discomfort.
Anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and opioids are among the medications used to treat nerve pain.
Some doctors recommend combining antidepressants and anticonvulsants like Gabapentin for better results. Although opioids such as Aspadol 100mg and Tapaday 200mg are effective for treating severe nerve pain, doctors prefer to utilize over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatories instead.
Why is it so difficult to treat nerve pain?
Each peripheral neuron is intricate in its own right and has a specific purpose in regard to its own region of the body. Because of the complexity of the neurological system, it is difficult to treat once it is impaired.
What causes nerve pain?
Nerve pain is typically severe at night. The pressure of lying down, as well as the sensation of the sheets, can be brutally unpleasant.
Inform your doctor if your nerve discomfort is keeping you up at night. Changing one's lifestyle or taking medication may help.
How long does it take to get rid of nerve pain?
Symptoms usually lessen and nerve function recovers to normal after 6 to 12 weeks of conservative therapy. Conservative therapies include physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as pregalin 50 mg and lyrica 300 mg.
Is it possible to mend nerves?
Although nerve cells can regenerate and grow again at a rate of roughly an inch per month, recovery is usually slow and partial.
The nerve sheath and supporting neurons have been severed, causing total nerve injury. A neurosurgeon can do surgery while observing the injured nerve endings if there is an open wound.
Is nerve pain the most agonizing?
Trigeminal neuralgia, commonly known as tic douloureux, affects the trigeminal nerve, often known as the fifth cranial nerve. It is one of the most excruciating situations ever.
