Nerve pain can also be called neuropathic pain and can cause people much discomfort. For some people it is a chronic tingling, shooting pain, burning pain, and for others a chronic stabbing pain. Nerve pain is a particular type of pain that differs from other kinds of pain.
Nerve pain is normally due to problems in the central nervous system, which is our brain and spinal cord, and the pain is usually caused by disease or injury. Symptoms can vary among each person, and the pain can start immediately following a trauma or other medical conditions, or it can take years to develop.
There is also another type of nerve pain that can develop. This is called peripheral nerve pain. Your peripheral nervous system connects all the nerves from your spinal cord and brain to the rest of your body.
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when these nerves are not working properly because they are either destroyed or damaged, and that in turn disrupts the nerves functioning normally. When this happens, the nerves may send signals of pain even if nothing is actually harming you. This can happen due to:
- Systemic illness
- An infection
- An injury
- An inherited disorder
Peripheral neuropathy can be uncomfortable but there are many treatments that can help, but the most important thing to determine is whether peripheral neuropathy is the result of any serious condition that maybe underlying.
Whatever pain you are experiencing, nerve pain can be very hard to endure, but with the correct treatment and medication it can be controlled enough for you to be able to move around and enjoy your daily activities.
People who suffer nerve pain will find that it interferes with important parts of life like, work, exercise and sleeping. It can also make everyday activities we take for granted very difficult, from washing, cooking, using your phone or even putting your shoes on.
Any nerve pain that is left untreated can get much worse over time, which is why early treatment is so important to aid your recovery. It is very common for people who suffer nerve pain to become frustrated that can lead easily to depression and anxiety.
Common conditions that can cause nerve pain:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Trapped nerve
- Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
How will the physiotherapist assess me?
During your examination your physiotherapist will assess your nervous system by testing the strength of your muscles, your reflexes and your sensations. They will also ask you some questions to try to determine where your pain is coming from:
- How long have you had the pain?
- What makes your pain worse and what makes it better?
- How does the pain affect you daily?
- What sort of pain is it, tingling, probing, dull ache?
Once they have given you a full assessment, they will hopefully have a better picture in how to treat your pain. There are many conditions such as shingles, diabetes and injuries that can cause nerve pain, so its very important to find the underlying cause of your pain, so that your physiotherapist can treat you appropriately.
Nerve pain medication may be helpful such as amitriptyline, pregabalin or gabapentin. This can be prescribed by your doctor. However, this often works most optimally with the correct exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist.
If you are having any type of nerve pain, please contact Home Physio Group on 0330 335 1016 to talk to our friendly and professional team, and learn how we can help you or a loved one.