Key information on Neuropathic Pain

Approximately 7 -8% of the world’s population suffers from neuropathic pain with around 5% experiencing severe pain. Read on to know its symptoms, causes and treatment options.

What is neuropathic pain?

Neuropathic pain is triggered when any injury or dysfunction takes place in the nervous system. It is a complex type of chronic pain that is usually not the outcome of a single disease or injury in a specific location. Disorders of the peripheral system and the central nervous system that includes the spinal chord and brain, give rise to neuropathic pain. Different types of neuropathic pain can be divided into central neuropathic pain, peripheral neuropathic pain or mixed both peripheral and central neuropathic pain.

What are the symptoms of neuropathic pain?

Neuropathic pain is an outcome of injury caused to the central nervous system or the peripheral system. Some of the common symptoms of neuropathic pain include shooting pain, burning pain, tingling, numbness, paresthesia and numbness.

What are the causes of neuropathic pain?

There is no obvious cause of developing a neuropathic pain, although some common causes identified include alcoholism, chemotherapy, amputation, hip, back and leg problems, diabetes, AIDS, shingles, cancer, facial nerve problems, multiple sclerosis and spine surgery.

How to diagnose neuropathic pain?

Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and may ask you to describe your pain, the stimulant that usually triggers pain and other sensations. When a nerve injury is apparent or suspected, the symptoms will usually point towards neuropathic pain. Few causes such as amputation or diabetes are apparent.

What are the treatment options available?

The treatment initially begins with finding the underlying cause that is triggering neuropathic pain and treating the cause if possible. For instance, if a person is suffering from diabetic neuropathic pain, it can be brought under control by keeping a check on the blood glucose levels. The most common way to treat neuropathic pain is through medications. Alternatively, patients are made to go through psychological treatments that include counseling, stress management, cognitive behavior therapy, and other pain management programmes to cope with neuropathic pain.

- Commonly used painkillers:

Painkillers like paracetamol or other anti-inflammatory drugs easily available at your local pharmacies can help to ease pain. However, these painkillers are not seen to be very useful when it comes to relieving neuropathic pain.

- Antidepressant medicines:

Antidepressants belonging to the tricyclic group are usually prescribed to treat neuropathic pain. These medications work by interrupting the way our nerve impulses are transmitted. You can find a number of tricyclic antidepressants however amitriptyline is the most commonly used for neuropathic pain. Most people find relief in amitriptyline drug. Other tricyclic antidepressants namely imipramine and nortriptyline are sometimes suggested to treat neuropathic pain. These antidepressants may take some days or weeks to ease the pain. Hence, you have to continue consuming them for utmost results. You may witness drowsiness after eating them but this condition is not permanent and eases with time. If you are feeling drowsy ask your doctor to lower the dose if possible.

- Anti-epileptic drugs:

These drugs are an alternative to antidepressants. Medicines including sodium valproate, gabapentin and carbamazepine are usually prescribed to treat neuralgia pain. Your doctor will suggest you a low dosage initially that may be raised gradually, if required. Like antidepressants, these drugs may also take several weeks for utmost effect.

- Capsaicin cream

This cream is sometimes suggested to ease pain especially when the above mentioned medicines fail to provide relief to a patient. Capsaicin works by the way of blocking nerves from forwarding pain messages. This cream is applied around thrice daily and can take about ten days for utmost effect.