What is neuropathic pain (nerve pain)?
Neuropathic pain is nerve pain that can happen if your nervous system malfunctions or gets damaged. You can feel pain from any of the various levels of your nervous system, including your peripheral nerves, your spinal cord and your brain. Your central nervous system consists of your spinal cord and brain. Peripheral nerves are the ones that spread throughout the rest of your body to places likes organs, arms, legs, fingers and toes.
Damaged nerve fibers send the wrong signals to pain centers in your body, resulting in neuropathic pain. Nerve function may change at the site of nerve damage and in areas in your central nervous system (central sensitization).
Neuropathy
Neuropathic pain can be mild or severe. It might come and go, or it might linger. Diseases like diabetes, shingles and central nervous system disorders can cause it. People with neuropathic pain might need a combination of different treatments.
Symptoms
- Spontaneous pain : Pain that happens for no apparent reason. This might include a burning, stabbing, or electric shock-like pain, tingling, numbness, or a “pins and needles” feeling.
- Dysesthesia: This refers to any unexpected sensations that feel strange, unpleasant or painful.
- Allodynia:It’s an extreme sensitivity to touch (like cold, pressure or brushing against your skin).
- Hypoalgesia: Normally painful stimulus results in a decreased pain response. (For example, the pinprick should hurt but it doesn’t).
- Hyperalgesia: Normally painful stimuli, like heat or pinpricks, cause an extreme or increased pain sensation (Walking on cold surfaces, like a tile floor, can feel like stepping on ground-up glass).
Causes
- Diabetes
- Alcohol use disorder.
- Central nervous system disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS).
- HIV/AIDS.
- Shingles.
- Trauma or surgeries with resulting nerve damage.
- Amputation, which can cause phantom limb pain.
- Chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin, vincristine, paclitaxel).
- Radiation therapy.
- Spinal nerve compression or inflammation.
- Tumors that press on nerves.
- Complex regional pain syndrome.
Prevention
- If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar closely and take extra good care of your feet.
- Limit your intake of beverages that contain alcohol.
- Find a regular exercise routine that works for you.
- Stop smoking.
- Eat lots of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean proteins.
- Taking a warm bath is also thought to soothe neuropathic pain.
Acupuncture for Neuropathy
Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that may help treat nerve pain and relieve discomfort.
The needles used in acupuncture are inserted into your body’s pressure points to stimulate the nervous system. This releases endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers, in the muscles, spine, and brain. This technique changes your body’s response to pain.
Many people with neuropathy turn to acupuncture to relieve their chronic pain. Acupuncture also stimulates blood flow to restore nerve damage.
In addition to acupuncture, you can use naturals remedies to treat symptoms of neuropathy.
If you’re looking for alternative treatments for neuropathic pain, in addition to traditional treatment methods, you may find success with acupuncture.
The goals of acupuncture treatment.
Neuropathic pain can be difficult to treat, but you’ll get the best results by combining treatment methods with support for your emotional, social and mental well-being. The goal is to manage your pain and improve your quality of life.
- Treat any underlying disease (for example, radiation therapy or surgery to shrink a tumor that’s pressing on a nerve).
- Provide pain relief.
- Maintain functionality.
- Improve your quality of life.