Pain is usually the natural consequence of tissue injury resulting in approximately forty million medical appointments per year. In general, as the healing process commences, the pain and tenderness associated with the injury will resolve. Unfortunately some individuals experience pain without an obvious injury or suffer protracted pain that persists for months or years after the initial insult.

Causes

The pain that is felt is real but the cause can often be difficult to discover. Patients with a wide range of medical conditions can develop neuropathic pain, these can include trauma caused by an accident or surgery, infection, vascular disease, cancer and metabolic conditions such as diabetes. Occasionally no identifiable cause is found which is incredibly frustrating for the individual experiencing the pain.

Symptoms

Neuropathic pain may have continuous and/or episodic (paroxysmal) components. The latter are likened to an electric shock. Common qualities of the pain include burning or coldness, "pins and needles" sensations, numbness and itching. "Ordinary" pain results from exclusive stimulation of pain fibers, while neuropathic pain often results from the firing of both pain and non-pain (touch, warm, cool) sensory nerve fibers serving the same area. The result is signals that the spinal cord and brain do not normally receive.

Note that Neuropathic pain symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Neuropathic pain signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor. More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Diasgnosis

Investigations may be useful to determine the underlying cause for the neuropathic pain, and should be directed to suspected causes. These usually involve blood tests. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies may be useful in some cases.

Treatment

If this is possible, it may help to ease the pain. For example, if you have diabetic neuropathy then good control of the diabetes may help to ease the condition. If you have cancer, if this can be treated then this may ease the pain. Note: the severity of the pain often does not correspond with the seriousness of the underlying condition. For example, postherpetic neuralgia (pain after shingles) can cause a severe pain, even though there is no rash or signs of infection remaining.

While the first goal of therapy is to relieve pain, goals should be realistic. Patients often hope for a “cure,” but this is not always possible. Complete pain relief may not be achieved with treatment. A more realistic goal is to decrease pain to a tolerable level. Successful treatment should improve ADLs. This includes improved ability for patient self-care, and increased ability to socialize. Specific goals should include activities the patient wishes to resume with pain relief. Effective treatment usually combines nonpharmacologic methods with medication.

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