Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain might occur if your nervous system gets damaged and doesn’t work correctly. It feels like shooting stabbing and kind of burning sensation. You might feel very sensitive to touch or cold.

Are You Experiencing Shooting or Burning Pain? Know More About Neuropathic Pain

When the nervous system gets damaged or doesn’t work correctly then Neuropathic pain may occur. Together the brain and spinal cord are termed as central nervous system. You will sense neuropathic pain as burning and shooting sensation. Sometimes it goes away on its own and sometimes it is chronic. It shows no obvious cause.

Diabetes is responsible for causing 30 % of the overall neuropathy cases. According to the studies about 1 in 3 Americans experience chronic pain. As per 2014 studies, approx. 10% of Americans have experienced neuropathic pain.

Interesting Facts About Neuropathic Pain

  • Neuropathic pain is a spontaneous pain that occurs without stimulation.  It causes shooting, burning, electric shock like pain or stabbing, tingling, or numbness feeling in your body.
  • Patients might experience misfiring of the peripheral nerve cells that could results in complete loss of sensation as well.
  • Approx 7-8 % of the European population is affected from neuropathic pain and 5 % of persons in it might be severe to this.

What Are the Possible Causes of Neuropathic Pain?

Have a look at some common causes of neuropathic pain: –

  • Diabetes,
  • HIV infection or AIDS,
  • Spine Surgery,
  • Chemotherapy,
  • Amputation,
  • Multiple sclerosis,
  • Thyroid problems, etc.

Diagnosis of Neuropathic Pain

If you want to diagnose neuropathic pain you need to consult with your doctor to physical examine you. He will first ask you to describe your pain or anything that triggers the pain. He might ask for blood and nerve tests.

How to Manage Neuropathic Pain?

When you diagnose your neuropathic pain, your doctor will identify the underlying cause for it and will provide the suitable treatment to eliminate the neuropathic pain. For example, diabetes is one of the common cause for neuropathic pain hence you must follow a healthy diet chat and do regular exercise to control your diabetes. This will help you to reduce the neuropathic pain. You can prevent worsening of your pain by checking your blood sugar levels.

Frequently Asked Question

  • Is it Difficult to Treat Neuropathic Pain?

    Every peripheral nerve is complex in itself as it has a dedicated role in a particular area of the body. Nervous system is already complex and when the peripheral nerve gets damaged it makes it difficult to treat.

  • How Long Does it Takes to Recover From Neuropathic Pain?

    Nerves actually takes longer time to recover and might takes months or several years. You will have to go through regular check-ups to ensure your recovery on track.

  • What Lifestyle You Must Follow to Deal With Neuropathic Pain?

    You need to do regular exercise as it could reduce your cramps or pain. Exercise helps in improving strength of the muscles, controls the level of sugar in blood, and prevent muscle loss. Walking and swimming can also bring improvement in your neuropathy symptoms.

  • Who Suffers from Neuropathic Pain?

    1 in every 10 adults who are over the age of 30 years experienced Neuropathic pain in their life. Though the prevalence rate and people identified might differ as the method of identification of neuropathic pain may also differ.

  • What Could Increase Neuropathic Pain?

    Traumatic injuries, infections, exposure to toxins, metabolic problems might cause peripheral neuropathy. Since its common cause if diabetes hence people with peripheral neuropathy experiences pain as burning or tingling like sensation.

  • What Organs Might Get Affected By Neuropathy?

    When the nerve damage occurs, it affects the pain signals sent between the brain and other organs. These areas include blood vessels, heart and sweat glands.

  • What Food Should Be Avoided While Dealing With Neuropathic pain?

    • Added sugars,
    • Refined grains,
    • Salty snacks,
    • Gluten,
    • Alcohol,
    • Saturated fats, etc.