About 1 in 3 Americans experience chronic pain and of those, 1 in 5 experience neuropathic pain1. When the nervous system is damaged or not working correctly, you can experience nerve pain. Nerve pain can affect the nervous system from the peripheral nerves, the spinal cord, and the brain. Understanding the possible causes can help you find better treatments and ways to prevent the pain from becoming more severe over time.
Common Causes of Nerve Pain include:
- Diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness or tingle in your fingers, toes, hands, and feet. Other symptoms include burning, sharp, or a dull aching pain.
- Parkinson's Disease causes an aching or burning pain or a sharp pain from a nerve or nerve root, numbness or pins and needles pain, and a pulsing or aching pain that results from tightness.
- Multiple Sclerosis causes neuropathic pain that happens from "short-circuiting" of the nerves that carry signals from the brain to the body because of damage from MS. This type of neuropathic pain leaves burning and stabbing pain sensations or sharp and squeezing sensations.
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a broad term describing prolonged pain and inflammation that follows an injury to an arm or leg, resulting in acute nerve pain.
- Cancer can directly affect the central nervous system with a tumor, pressing on nearby nerves, blood vessels, or tissues, leaving one with pain, tingling, and numbness.
- Trigeminal Neuralgia a chronic pain condition affects the trigeminal nerve in the face causing a feeling of an electric shock on one side of the face. Symptoms range from mild to severe facial pain, often triggered by chewing, speaking, or brushing the teeth.
- Chemotherapy and Radiation can cause damage to nerves that can lead to neuropathy—feelings of pins and needles and cold and hot sensations mainly experienced in the arms and legs.
- Injuries and Infections are associated with nerve pain. Certain viruses, injuries, and diseases leave the nerves with pain, sensitivity, numbness, burning, and pain.
Finding a highly specialized provider to treat your nerve pain is crucial. The best results come from combining rehabilitation with medicinal support managed by a specialized and qualified neurologist. Cutting-edge medication can offer fantastic results, improving your quality of life and minimizing your nerve pain.
North Suffolk Neurology has more than 30 years of experience treating neurological diseases and pain conditions. We work with you to develop a unique personalized approach to treating your pain and providing the compassionate and comprehensive medical care you deserve.
North Suffolk Neurology is a full-service Neurology, Headache Medicine, and Sleep Medicine practice. Our neurologists are board certified with a commitment to help patients and their families maintain and improve health.
