Nerve Pain Treatment

Nerve pain is a common condition experienced by millions of people at any given time. The causes and symptoms vary a great deal from one case to the next, as well. The best way to relieve the pain involves understanding its underlying cause and creating a personalized nerve pain treatment plan.

The Many Causes of Nerve Pain

If you experience nerve pain, which many people describe as a burning or stabbing sensation in one or more areas of the body, it could be caused by numerous illnesses, conditions, or injuries. Some of the most common nerve pain causes include:

• Cancer and tumors. Malignant and benign tumors alike can press on nerves, and certain types of cancers can even grow directly on the nerves themselves.
• HIV. People who have HIV must take a regimen of antiretroviral drugs to help keep the virus from multiplying. In some patients, these drugs can cause nerve damage and pain.
• Diabetes. In the US, diabetes is the number one cause of nerve pain. Too much glucose in the bloodstream can lead to nerve damage, as can lack of proper circulation to the extremities.
• Shingles. Shingles, which is an infection caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, can sometimes cause postherpetic neuralgia. It has a sudden onset and can be extremely painful.
• Physical trauma. Traumatic injuries can lead to nerves that are crushed, pinched, compressed, or even severed.

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Nerve Pain Symptoms

The nerve pain treatment that is best for you will depend on the underlying cause and the severity of your symptoms. People experience this pain to varying degrees. For some, the pain is barely a discomfort, but for others, it can have a negative impact on everyday life and prevent them from walking or even getting out of bed. Other symptoms include pricking sensations, numbness, tingling, and even a loss of reflexes. In its most extreme forms, nerve pain may cause paralysis, and in a few cases, it can lead to problems with the digestive or respiratory system.

Nerve Pain Treatment Options

Though the nerve pain treatment that works best for you may not be the best for everyone, doctors and pain management specialists typically follow the same set of guidelines. Treatments include:

• Topical medications. Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications are meant to help disguise nerve pain, which can alleviate it in some patients. These work best when the nerve pain is localized to a small area.
• Anticonvulsant medications. Certain prescription medications, including many in the benzodiazepine family, can help control nerve pain when used as directed. In some cases, they work better when prescribed alongside specific antidepressants, but they do not work well for everyone.
• Antidepressants. Certain antidepressant medications have been clinically proven to help fight nerve pain in diabetic patients, but those same studies showed that they do not provide much relief for nerve pain caused by HIV or cancer.
• Electrical stimulation. The use of a TENS or rTMS unit to send electrical impulses through the affected parts of the body can sometimes help to block the sensations of pain sent by the damaged nerves.

Nerve pain can range from barely more than an inconvenience to a serious problem that prevents you from living life to its fullest. If you are experiencing nerve pain of any kind, finding the cause and then creating a treatment plan based on the symptoms is the best way to relieve your pain. 

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