Nerve Pain Causes: Exploring the Underlying Conditions

Nerve pain is a specific type of pain in the body that results from damage or irritation of nerves. Symptoms and causes can differ widely.

In this article, we will help you understand nerve pain in general and talk about treatment options and the potential causes of nerve pain.

What is nerve pain?

The nervous system is a complex network that fulfills an essential role, regulating the body and transmitting vital information like sensations, feelings, commands, and other signals. Nerves are cable-like bundles of nerve fibers threading through the entire body, acting as highways for these signals.

Nerve pain is a sensation that occurs when one or more of these nerves suffer from damage, irritation, or other disruptions.

The symptoms of nerve damage can manifest in different ways, depending on the affected nerves and the severity of the underlying issues. Neuropathic pain is usually characteristic enough to distinguish it from other sources of pain. It might feel like a tingling, shooting, stabbing, electric, needle-like, or burning sensation. Numbness is a common symptom as well.

The affected area often gets sensitive to touch. One might also experience loss of balance due to nerve damage.

What causes nerve pain?

The underlying causes behind nerve pain can be diverse. It might stem from numerous neurological disorders, poor blood supply, nerve diseases, nerve damage, or the compression or irritation of the nerves.

Neuralgia

Neuralgia refers to a specific type of intense and sharp nerve pain that occurs along the path of a nerve. The condition usually develops due to nerve damage or irritation. Neuralgia has many different types, depending on the underlying causes and the affected nerves.

Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that occurs due to irritation or compression of the trigeminal nerve. This nerve is responsible for transmitting sensations in the face. The main symptom is sudden, severe, electric shock-like pains that usually occur only on one side of the face.

Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia involves medications to ease the symptoms and, in some cases, surgical procedures to relieve pressure on the trigeminal nerve.

Occipital neuralgia

The occipital nerves run from the upper neck to the scalp. Occipital neuralgia occurs due to the irritation or inflammation of these nerves. The hallmark symptom is recurrent episodes of severe shooting pain in the base of the skull and the back of the head.

Treatment for occipital neuralgia typically includes a combination of pain medications, nerve block injections, physical therapy, and in more severe cases, surgical interventions.

Postherpetic neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia is a nerve disorder that develops after getting shingles. The nerve condition persists even after the herpes rashes have healed, and it causes intense and throbbing pain that feels like a burning or stabbing sensation. The pain occurs in the area previously affected by the shingles rashes.

Postherpetic neuralgia treatment involves a combination of medications to manage pain and reduce nerve sensitivity in the area. Full recovery is possible.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare neurological condition characterized by recurring episodes of severe, sharp pain in the back of the throat, tongue, ear, and tonsil area. The pain is often triggered by swallowing, speaking, or coughing, and it only lasts for a short period. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can stem from the irritation or compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Treatment options include surgical interventions, medications for pain management, antidepressants, and antiseizure drugs.

Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is a condition that involves damage to the nerve roots due to a pinched nerve. It's usually a result of disk problems, degenerative issues, spinal stenosis, or physical trauma.

Cervical radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy occurs in the neck area of the spine. The nerves branching from the spinal cord get pinched by a herniated disk, bone deformities, or the swelling of tissues around the spine. The condition causes nerve pain, tingling, and muscle weakness that might radiate into the neck, the shoulders, and the arms or hands.

Cervical radiculopathy might heal with rest alone. Pain medications and physical therapy can speed up the healing process. In severe cases, doctors might turn to surgical methods.

Lumbar radiculopathy

Lumbar radiculopathy affects the lower back area of the spine. A misaligned or herniated disk, swollen muscles, or bone deformities might lead to a pinched nerve in the lower back, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the back, buttocks, and legs. In rare cases, symptoms might include difficulty controlling bladder and bowel movements.

Treatment might involve physical therapy, pain medications, epidural steroid injections, and surgery.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve stems from the lower back and runs through the buttocks and the legs. Sciatica occurs when this nerve gets irritated, compressed, or in other ways, damaged. Herniated disks, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, and injuries can all lead to sciatica. Symptoms include numbness, loss of feeling, tingling sensation, and nerve pain in the lower back, buttocks, or legs. Sciatica usually affects only one side of the body.

The focus of treatment is usually relieving the pressure on the affected nerve by treating the underlying issue. Physical therapy, various pain management methods, and rest can make healing faster and more comfortable.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is an umbrella term encompassing various disorders and dysfunctions of the nerves. The word itself means nerve damage or nerve dysfunction.

Since neuropathy is such a wide area, we have devoted an entire article to this topic alone. If you'd like to read more about different types of neuropathy, conditions categorized as neuropathies, symptoms, and treatment methods, read our neuropathy guide.

Other nerve issues

Nerve pain might stem from numerous other nerve disorders, problems, and diseases. All of these conditions hinder the nerves in some way, either by causing nerve damage, constricting the nerves themselves, restricting blood flow, or disrupting the transmission of various nerve signals.

• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• Phantom Limb Pain
• Central Pain Syndrome
• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
• Meralgia Paresthetica
• Brachial Plexus Injury
• Morton's Neuroma
• Vitamin B12 deficiency

Treating nerve pain

When treating nerve pain, doctors will focus on fixing the underlying issue first and foremost. The methods for that might vary, depending on the cause.

Nerve compression

Nerve pain most commonly stems from the compression or irritation of the nerves or nerve roots.

Treatment options for these issues include the following:

• Physical therapy and stretches
• Activity modifications and using ergonomic equipment
• Surgery

Trauma and Injuries

Physical trauma might damage the nerves or the structures around them, causing a misaligned bone or joint to press on the nerve and lead to nerve pain.

Doctors might recommend the following treatment methods:

• Painkillers
• Nerve blocks
• Surgical interventions

Inflammation and autoimmune disorders

Certain inflammatory or autoimmune diseases might lead to symptoms like nerve pain and nerve dysfunction. This might happen due to an inflamed nerve or swollen tissues irritating it.

Possible treatment options for inflammation-related nerve pain might be:

• NSAIDs
• Immunosuppressants
• Cold therapy

Infections

Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections might cause nerve issues by attacking the nerve or the tissues around it. In some cases, like postherpetic neuralgia, the nerve dysfunction might be the aftermath of an infection.

Infections need to be treated as soon as possible.

• Antiviral medications
• Antibiotics
• Nerve blocks

Tumors and growths

Cancerous or non-cancerous tumors and other growths like cysts or bone spurs might cause constriction in the nerve canals or press on the nerves. This can lead to nerve pain, tingling, numbness, and other symptoms.

If the growth is causing irritation or putting pressure on a nerve or nerve root, it should be addressed even if it appears harmless otherwise.

• Surgical intervention
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy

Metabolic and nutritional causes

Nerve damage or nerve pain might result from nutritional deficiencies or an underlying metabolic issue, like diabetes.

In these cases, fixing the nutritional deficiency or proper management of the metabolic condition might provide relief for the nerve pain as well.

• Controlling blood sugar levels
• Addressing nutritional deficiencies with supplements
• Lifestyle or diet modifications

Nerve pain relief

Pain management is a vital part of the treatment process. Finding the right methods to relieve your symptoms can make the healing process more comfortable and aid in managing chronic conditions daily.

When it comes to nerve pain management, you have various options.

• Traditional painkillers
• Temperature therapy
• Drug-free pain patches
• Acupuncture
• Topical analgesics
• TENS
• Meditation

Nerve pain can be different for everyone, and some treatment methods work better than others on an individual basis. If you have long-standing nerve pain, you might want to try more than one form of pain management. But keep in mind to always consult with your healthcare professional, before trying a new pain management method, because some of them might interfere with others.

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by Super Patch Team

How to Identify and Treat Neuropathy

The word neuropathy means nerve damage or dysfunction. While it's often referred to as a disease, it is not one condition but rather an umbrella term encompassing a variety of conditions.

Neuropathy might come in different forms and with a broad range of symptoms, so understanding them is crucial to identify and treat the issue.

In this article, you will learn about different forms of neuropathy, their symptoms, causes, and possible treatment options.

What is neuropathy?

The nervous system is a network inside our body that allows us to control bodily functions. It consists of different nerves and cells that transfer messages throughout the system, divided into two main areas. The central nervous system includes the spinal cord and the brain, while all the rest are part of the peripheral nervous system.

When these nerves get damaged, irritated, or disturbed in some other way, we call that neuropathy.

Types of neuropathy

Neuropathy is a broad term referring to all sorts of nerve problems. Depending on symptoms, underlying causes, and the affected area, we can identify four types of neuropathy.

Cranial neuropathy

Cranial neuropathy occurs when the nerves in the brain or brainstem are subject to damage, trauma, or irritation.

There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves in this area, and they help us process sensory information and control movement.

Cranial neuropathy often affects our vision, taste, hearing, or facial muscles. It's possible to suffer damage to more than one of these nerves, in which case doctors might diagnose multiple cranial neuropathies.

Cranial neuropathy symptoms

People may experience different symptoms depending on which nerves are affected. The following are some common symptoms of cranial neuropathies:

• Tingling sensation or numbness
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Muscle weakness or paralysis
• Obscured vision
• Neuropathic pain

Most of these symptoms occur in the facial area, like a sudden weakness of facial muscles, drooling, or difficulty controlling eye movement.

Peripheral neuropathy

The peripheral nervous system weaves through our entire body, breaching out from the brain and the spinal cord. It connects the central nervous system to other areas, like the limbs, organs, etc.

When any of these nerves suffer damage, it falls under the broad category of peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common among all types of neuropathies, so people might often refer to it simply as neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy symptoms

Considering how enormous and complex this system is, peripheral neuropathy may encompass a wide range of medical conditions. These conditions might come with varying symptoms, sometimes unique to the affected nerves and their functions. Some common symptoms across multiple of these conditions might include:

• Sharp pain
• Increased, unpleasant sensitivity of the skin
• Decreased ability to coordinate movements
• Muscle weakness or paralysis
• Numbness or tingling in the limbs

Peripheral neuropathy might often affect the limbs, causing sensations of pain, sensitivity, or numbness. Another common sign of peripheral neuropathy conditions might be problems with movements and motor functions.

Focal neuropathy

Focal neuropathy conditions affect a single nerve in the body. The issue is often related to muscles or other tissues pressing on or irritating the nerve, causing various uncomfortable sensations.

The underlying causes might vary. The nerves might get irritated by swollen muscles or tissues due to inflammation or overuse, physical pressure resulting from bone spurs or other deformities, nerve damage from diabetes, or a herniated disc.

Common areas affected by focal neuropathy might be the feet, the legs, the torso, and the hands. But it might also occur in any other area of the body.

Focal neuropathy symptoms

A telltale sign of focal neuropathy might be that, most of the time, it only affects a limited area. So the common symptoms listed below usually become apparent only locally.

• Numbness or tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Painful sensation
• Inflammation in the area

One of the most well-known focal neuropathies is carpal tunnel syndrome, where the swollen tendons of the wrist press on the median nerve, causing numbness, tingling, and pain in the wrist and the thumb side of the hand.

Autonomic neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system is a part of our peripheral nervous system, responsible for regulating automatic body functions like breathing, digestion, and heart functions.

Autonomic neuropathy occurs when there's damage or dysfunction in this system. These dysfunctions can lead to various problems like an unregulated heartbeat or blood pressure, digestive problems, and bladder issues.

Autonomic neuropathy symptoms

The symptoms of autonomic neuropathy might be quite different, depending on which bodily functions are affected. Below, we will look at the most commonly affected autonomic systems and list some typical symptoms for each.

Heart regulation

When the nerves controlling your heart functions are damaged, your body might have issues regulating your heartbeat and blood pressure. This might lead to irregular heartbeat, fainting when you stand up, or during physical activity, and it can prevent you from feeling pain during other heart problems like a heart attack.

Bladder regulation

Damage to the nerves regulating your bladder functions can cause leaking and the loss of the ability to hold urine. Additionally, holding urine for too long might lead to bladder infections.

Digestive system

When autonomic neuropathy occurs in the nerves of the digestive system, it can lead to nausea, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, or problems swallowing.

Eyes

Autonomic neuropathy might affect our pupils, hindering our reaction time to light changes and making driving a car or navigating in darker places harder.

Sweat glands

Autonomic neuropathy of the nerves controlling the sweat glands might lead to extensive sweating in some areas or dryness in others. This might affect our body's ability to regulate its temperature.

Reproductive organs

Damage to nerves in the genitalia might cause erectile dysfunction or ejaculation problems in men and loss of sensitivity or decreased arousal fluids in women.

Neuropathy treatments

As we can see, neuropathy can refer to a broad range of issues throughout our nervous system, each with unique symptoms and treatment options.

So, before starting any treatment, doctors would have to identify the source of the problem and any underlying issues. Only then can a course of treatment be set.

Treatments for neuropathies can be as simple as rest, or they might require long-term treatment with drugs, and in some cases, surgery might be the only option.

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by Super Patch Team

Peripheral neuropathy treatment options

Peripheral neuropathy is a term that could refer to a wide range of medical conditions affecting the peripheral nervous system.

Each of these conditions might have different underlying causes and symptoms. Therefore, peripheral neuropathy treatments might differ depending on the exact form of neuropathy.

Understanding peripheral neuropathy and the goals of treatment

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of neuropathy, characterized by damage or dysfunction of nerves in the peripheral nervous system. You might experience symptoms like sharp nerve pain, unpleasant sensitivity, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or paralysis, and difficulty coordinating movement and motor functions.

These symptoms might appear in the limbs, organs, and torso, and it's possible to experience other symptoms depending on where the neuropathy manifests, like problems with digestion or circulation and bladder issues.

The ultimate goal of neuropathy treatment is to treat the underlying issue that causes neuropathy.

However, this is not always possible because neuropathy might be a symptom of some chronic diseases, or the nerve damage might be permanent. In these cases, treatment efforts are usually focused on reducing symptoms.

Treating the underlying causes of neuropathy

There's a broad range of peripheral neuropathy causes. Some of these might be as simple as a swollen muscle pressing on the nerve, while others might be incurable chronic diseases like arthritis.

Whenever possible, doctors will try to cure or treat the underlying issue. In some cases, this might entirely heal neuropathy. Otherwise, it could reduce its effects on your daily life.

Compression or irritation of the nerve

A common cause behind neuropathy is physical irritation of the nerves. Inflammation, swollen tissues, or bone deformities might compress the nerves. In these cases, healing the inflammation, resting, or surgically correcting the bone deformities might resolve the effects of neuropathy.

Nutritional deficiencies

Another easily treatable cause behind neuropathy might be nutritional deficiencies, like low vitamin B12, copper, or vitamin B6 levels. These can be remedied by changing your diet and taking additional supplement or vitamins for neuropathy.

Diabetes

Diabetes is another common underlying issue that might lead to peripheral neuropathy. While diabetes has no known cure yet, keeping a proper diet, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight might all help reduce the symptoms and the effects of diabetic neuropathy.

Other underlying causes with available treatment options

In addition to these underlying issues, there are other less common causes for neuropathy. Let's take a look at some of them and their possible treatment options.

• Infections - Antibiotics or antiviral drugs
• Autoimmune disorders - DMARDs, immunosuppressants, or immunoglobulin treatments
• Medication-induced neuropathy - Changing certain medications or reducing dosages
• Toxins and chemical exposures - Chelation therapy, antitoxins, avoiding further exposure, taking protective measures

Peripheral neuropathy pain relief

Nerve pain is one of the most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Regardless of whether the neuropathy is acute or chronic, pain management is essential for any neuropathy treatment plan.

Traditional painkillers

When it comes to painkillers, we have multiple options, depending on the source and severity of the pain. Analgesics, like paracetamol, can reliably relieve lesser acute pains. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can treat pain and inflammation at the same time. Steroid-based injections might come in handy when dealing with chronic inflammatory pains. And opioids might be prescribed for more severe pains.

The upside of these medicines is that they provide reliable neuropathic pain treatment. The downside is that they often come with potential side effects.

Natural pain remedies

Natural pain remedies might not be as potent as traditional drugs, but they usually have fewer side effects.

Capsaicin, extracted from chili peppers, is a well-known natural painkiller that can help ease pains locally. Boswellia is another natural, herbal-based remedy that could help relieve lesser pains. Certain essential oils, like lavender, might also offer some pain relief.

Drug-free pain management options

If you want to avoid the side effects of traditional drugs or supplement them with methods that don't interfere with other medications, then you could explore these drug-free pain relief options.

Temperature therapy

Heat and cold therapy are proven and reliable methods to ease pain without significant side effects. Heat therapy can help ease swollen or overused muscles, and cold therapy can numb pain and reduce inflammation.

Physical therapy

Gentle stretches, low-impact exercises, and massages might help ease mild pains and improve circulation. Yoga, tai-chi, and swimming are excellent forms of exercise when dealing with chronic pains.

Drug-free pain patches

Another drug-free, non-invasive pain management method that you could try is our Freedom pain patch. These patches use unique vibrotactile technology to communicate directly with the nervous system and relieve pain.

Treating other symptoms of neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy might come with additional symptoms and issues related to the functions of the affected nerves.

• Physiotherapy or assistive devices can effectively address muscle weakness or paralysis.
• Erectile dysfunction and digestive issues might call for additional medications.
• Loss of balance and coordination can benefit from specialized exercises and balance training.
• Cognitive impairments associated with peripheral neuropathy may require cognitive rehabilitation programs and memory-enhancing techniques.

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by Super Patch Team