As you get older, aches and pains become more common. This can make it difficult to figure out when to get your pain checked out by a doctor. One common cause of pain is called neuropathy, and in this article, our team at Complete Rehab will explain how to recognize it and what you can do about it.
- Causes – At the most fundamental level, neuropathic pain is caused by damaged or impaired nerves. In other words, the pain doesn’t come from any stimulus, but instead is created by your nerves sending pain signals. Neuropathic pain most frequently occurs as a symptom of other conditions, with the most common example being diabetes.
- Symptoms – You can determine if the pain you are experiencing is neuropathic in nature by considering your symptoms. If you would describe your pain as a shooting, burning, or stabbing pain, then it might be neuropathic, as these are commonly reported descriptions. In addition, neuropathic pain is frequently spontaneous, meaning it occurs without being triggered by anything. Alternatively, you might experience stimuli that aren’t usually painful as causing pain, such as brushing against something.
- Treatment – The best treatment options for neuropathic pain typically involve identifying and managing the underlying condition, which helps alleviate this symptom. For additional relief, a doctor might prescribe pain medication or other drugs, such as anticonvulsants or steroids, which have shown to have a positive effect on this type of pain.