What is Nerve Pain: Treatment, Causes, and Diagnosis

What is Neuropathic Pain (Nerve Pain)?

Neuropathic pain is a form of chronic pain condition induced by injury or dysfunction of the nervous system and is also referred to as nerve pain. Neuropathic pain differs from general pain that is normally associated with tissues either through injury or inflammation (for example, cuts or burns) in that neuropathic pain starts within the nerves; this may be the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system.

Nerve Pain Causes

Metabolic Disorders

• Diabetes – The most frequent type referred to as diabetic neuropathy; high blood sugar affects nerves gradually.
• Vitamin deficiencies – Especially B1, B6, B12, and E.

Infections

• Shingles (herpes zoster) – may contribute to the postherpetic neuralgia.
• Due to HIV/AIDS, it may affect the nerves directly or due to certain medications that are given for the treatment of AIDS.
• Hepatitis C
• Lyme disease
• Leprosy

Trauma or Injury

• Breaks in the bones, bruises, or crushes that affect nerves in our body.
• Surgical risks – Nerves may be affected during surgery since they can be selectively cut.
• Spinal cord injury

Nerve Compression

• Herniated disc or spinal stenosis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Sciatica – Pinched nerve in the lower back
• Tumors pressing on nerves

Autoimmune and Inflammatory Conditions

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Medications and Toxins

• Chemotherapy drugs
• HIV drugs
• Alcohol abuse – Consumption of alcohol for a long time can lead to the development of alcoholic neuropathy.
• Heavy metals – Lead, arsenic, mercury poisoning

Genetic Disorders

• Hereditary neuropathies like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Other Causes

• Hypothyroidism
• Kidney disease (uremic neuropathy)
• Liver disease
• Cancer – either from the tumor or as a paraneoplastic syndrome

Nerve Pain Treatment

Management of neuropathic pain involves the use of medications, various therapies, and certain changes in one’s lifestyle. Since nerve pain is not treatable using typical treatments that involve paracetamol or ibuprogen, the treatment usually involves reducing the activity of overstimulated nerves or nerves that have been damaged.

Medical Treatments for Nerve Pain

Medications

These are first-line treatments:

• Antidepressants
• Anticonvulsants (anti-seizure drugs)
• Topical Treatments

Therapies and Procedures

Physical Therapy

• Helps reduce nerve compression
• Strengthens muscles
• Improves range of motion

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS for short is defined as gentle electrical pulses that are applied to the skin
• Have blocking properties that prevents pain signal transmission and others that trigger the production of pain inhibitory substances within the body.

Nerve Blocks or Injections

• Neuralgia medications may be administered in forms such as corticosteroids or any other anaesthetics injected near the nerve fibers.
• Such conditions may be sciatica or trigeminal neuralgia, among other several others.

Surgical Options

• If nerve is compressed or damaged (for instance, in case of having a herniated disc or tumor affecting a nerve) surgery might be beneficial.

Lifestyle & Alternative Options

Dietary Changes

• B vitamins (especially B12)
• Omega-3s (flaxseed, walnuts, fish oil)
• Avoiding alcohol
• Managing blood sugar (for diabetics)

Mind-Body Therapies

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Meditation & mindfulness
• Acupuncture (some find relief)

Regular Exercise

• Improves blood flow to nerves
• Helps reduce pain sensitivity
• Boosts mood and sleep quality

Nerve Pain and Nerve Damage Difference

Nerve Pain (Neuropathic Pain)

What is it?

• A sign casued by the nervous system where it transmits wrong or improper signals of pain.
• It may occur with or without nerve injury.

Examples:

• Burning, stabbing, or electric-shock sensations
• Tingling, numbness, or hypersensitivity
• Pain without any clear injury

Causes:

• Diabetic neuropathy
• Shingles (postherpetic neuralgia)
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Sciatica
• Chemotherapy

Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)

What is it?

• A state where the nerve fibers are either physically damaged or otherwise assumed to be damaged through disease or other means.
• It can also cause some discomfort, numbness, slight weakness or even loss of control.

Examples:

• Permanent loss of sensation
• Muscle weakness or paralysis
• No reflexes
• Atroprin: Muscles waste away (in profound cases)

Causes:

• Physical trauma (accidents, cuts)
• Long-term diabetes (can destroy nerves)
• Alcoholism
• Autoimmune diseases
• B12 deficiency
• Infections like HIV or leprosy

Nerve Pain Symptoms

Burning Sensation

• It is described as the sensation as if the skin or body part has been burnt.
• It is continuous and quite loud, impossible not to notice when it is on.

Sharp or Shooting Pain

• Sudden, electric shock-like jolts
• May go down the arms, legs or along a nerve course

Tingling or “Pins and Needles”

• It’s worse than the feeling when the limb feels as if it is falling asleep.
• May be present persistently or may be present at one time and absent at the other.

Numbness

• Reduced or total loss of feeling in the affected area
• At times it may occur together with pain which may seem strange

Hypersensitivity (Allodynia)

• Now even light touch, wearing of clothes, or a breeze will cause the pain.
• Normal sensations become painful

Pain from Non-Painful Stimuli

• The other sensations, such as touch, stroking hair or skin, or slight pressure, cause pain.
• Example: When you put bed sheet, that touches your foot you feel a burn like pain.

Cold or Heat Sensitivity

• Extreme response to temperature changes
• Cold weather as well as warm water also increases pain.

Throbbing or Aching

• Severe, throbbing sensations that seem to originate from the nerve of that particular part
• Often worse at night

Muscle Weakness

• This is especially the case if the motor nerve has been damaged.
• May have problems in walking, lifting things or holding an object    

Balance or Coordination Problems

• Peripheral neuropathy or the damage of the peripheral nerves in the feet or legs makes you feel unstable.
• Risk of tripping or falling

Nerve Pain Diagnosis

Diagnosis of neuropathic pain consequently necessitates determination of whether a patient’s symptoms are due to a lesion or a dysfunction of a nerve and determination of the cause of this lesion or dysfunction. It has no specific diagnostic test, but a doctor has to rely on the history and a physical examination and investigations.

Steps in Nerve Pain Diagnosis

Medical History

Your doctor will ask about:

• Place, and time of occurrence of the pain
• Any tingling, numbness, or weakness
• Underlying conditions (e.g. diabetes, shingles, injuries)
• Medications or toxic exposures
• Family history of nerve problems

Physical & Neurological Exam

This evaluates its functionality in the body, that is, how it works to help human beings, especially when its performance is checked through an electricity nerve impulse test. The doctor may test:

• Reflexes
• Muscle strength
• To get a feeling of the sensations of touch, temperature, and vibration to the skin.
• Balance and coordination

Specialized Diagnostic Tests

• Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
• Tells you how fast and how powerfully electricity travels through your nervous system
• Facilitates diagnosis of any injury to nerves or obstruction of the nerve pathways.

Electromyography (EMG)

• Tests the electrical activity in muscles
• Detects nerve or muscle dysfunction

Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST)

• Presents approach for measuring your reaction to pressure, heat, or vibration
• Detects nerve sensitivity or loss

Evoked Potentials

• It assesses reaction in terms of visual, audio or touch input.
• Can be beneficial when you evaluate CNS disorders, including multiple sclerosis.

Imaging Tests (if needed)

• MRI or CT scan
• To be used in case of a tumour, hernia disk disorder, or any problem with the spinal cord.
• It aids in finding press or swelling that may be affecting the nerve.

Blood Tests

To check for causes like:

• Diabetes
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Thyroid disorders
• Infections (e.g., HIV, hepatitis)
• Autoimmune diseases

Nerve Biopsy (rare)

• Tissue sample of a little nervous mass is collected for laboratory examination
• Usually done only in complex cases

Top Hospitals

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket
• Apollo Hospital, Delhi

Best Doctors

• Dr. Ashu Kumar Jain
• Dr. Sudhir Dubey
• Dr. Praveen Gupta
• Dr. Joy Dev Mukherji
• Dr. Charu Gauba

Why Choose GetWellGo for Nerve Pain Treatment?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24 hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for nerve pain treatment.
• Expert neurologist with a strong track record of success
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food