Neuropathic pain is a complex condition caused by damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. It can arise from any level of your nervous system including brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. This condition presents with a variety of causes and symptoms depending upon the underlying factors and nerves involved.
In this blog we’ll be focusing on effective tips for neuropathic pain relief. But before diving into that let’s have an understanding of common causes and symptoms of it. This will help you manage your condition more effectively.
Causes:
Here are some common causes of neuropathic pain:
- Diabetes, which is one of leading cause of peripheral neuropathy
- Physical traumas like fractures or surgeries that damage nerves
- Spinal cord injuries that cause nerve damage or disrupt nerve signaling
- Shingles (Post herpetic neuralgia)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Stroke
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Alcoholism
- Infections such as HIV, lyme disease and syphilis
- Tumors pressing on nerves
- Chemotherapy (chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy)
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
Symptoms:
Symptoms of neuropathic pain depend on extent and position of nerve damage. Here are some common symptoms:
- Pain that can be burning, stabbing or shooting pain.
- Tingling or “pins and needles” sensations.
- Allodynia (Pain caused by factors that are normally not painful, e.g a light touch
- Hyperalgesia (heightened sensitivity to pain)
- Numbness (loss of sensation in certain areas)
- Autonomic symptoms like abnormal sweating, changes in skin colour or temperature.
Tips For Neuropathic Pain Relief:
While managing this type of pain requires patience and a comprehensive approach, there are some strategies as well as lifestyle modifications that can help you. Here are some simple, easy and effective tips for neuropathic pain relief:
1. Identify And Treat The Underlying Cause:
There are many causes of neuropathic pain. To effectively manage your pain, you should know about its cause and treat it accordingly. For example if it is caused by diabetes, blood sugar levels should be controlled. If the cause is nutritional deficiency like vitamin B12 or folate, supplementation can reverse it. When the underlying cause is addressed appropriately, the likelihood of having long-term pain relief increases.
2. Medications:
- Over The Counter Painkillers:
You can try OTC painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen for temporary pain relief, but in most cases, they don’t help much with neuropathic pain. According to the NHS, neuropathic pain usually does not get better with common painkillers. So your doctor might prescribe you some other medicines like antidepressants or anticonvulsants.
- Antidepressants:
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) e.g amitriptyline and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) e.g duloxetine are often used to relieve neuropathic pain. They are thought to do so by interfering with the neurotransmitters and nerve conduction.
- Anticonvulsants/ Anti-Epileptic Medicines:
Anticonvulsants like gabalin or pregabalin not only prevent epileptic fits but are also known to relieve neuropathic pain. They act by stopping the nerve impulses that are causing the pain.
- Topical Treatments:
Lidocaine ointments or patches and capsaicin creams can be applied on the affected areas that are causing pain. They also help in pain relief.
- Opioids Painkillers:
If your pain is not responding to other medicines, your doctor might prescribe you opioid painkillers like tramadol and codeine. They are stronger painkillers, but should be taken with caution as they can cause side effects and drug dependency if used for a longer period.
Always use all these medicines after consulting with your healthcare provider.
3. Physical Therapies Or Physical Treatments:
Physical therapies can help with your pain by improving flexibility, strength and functionalities. They also cause your body to release some natural pain relieving chemicals. Here are some therapies and treatments you can try:
- Stretching and strengthening exercises, by focusing on muscles affected by nerve pain.
- Massage therapy. As it will reduce muscle tension associated with nerve pain.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). In this therapy a device is used that delivers low voltage electric current to disrupt pain signals.
4. Adopt A Healthy Lifestyle:
Lifestyle changes can affect the severity of neuropathic pain. Here are some healthy lifestyle habits that you can adopt which can help manage your pain:
- Stay active by engaging in low impact exercises like walking, swimming, yoga. They will help improve your circulation and nerve health.
- Maintain a healthy weight. As excessive weight can put pressure on your nerves.
- Quit smoking, as it impairs blood circulation which exacerbates nerve damage.
- Avoid Alcohol, as it can aggravate nerve pain.
- Get adequate and good quality sleep.
5. Consider Alternate Therapies:
You can also try some alternative therapies to relieve your pain. Here are some you can try:
- Acupuncture
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Meditation
- Deep Breathing Exercise
- Herbal Remedies
- Supplements like alpha lipoic acid
- Adding anti-inflammatory foods like healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and nuts in your diet.They can help improve your nerve health.
6. Seek Emotional Support:
Living with chronic pain like that caused by neuropathy can take a toll on your mental and emotional health. You should try to build a strong support system by:
- Talking to your friends and family about your pain.
- Joining a support group with people suffering from chronic pain or neuropathic pain.
- Speaking to a therapist for psychological counseling.
7. Explore Interventional Treatment:
If your pain is not getting better with lifestyle modifications, physical therapies, medications, or other treatments, your doctor might consider interventional therapies for you. These include:
- Nerve Block:
A doctor will inject local anesthetic near a specific nerve or group of nerves to disrupt pain signals. This will temporarily numb them and relieve pain.
- Spinal Cord Stimulation:
A device is implanted near the spine by a minimally invasive procedure, which delivers electrical pulses to reduce pain perception.
Neuropathic pain is challenging and its management can be an ongoing process. Partnering with your healthcare provider and adopting a proactive approach can improve your quality of life. Assess what is working best for you and adjust to any changes in your condition.
If you are struggling with neuropathic pain or any other type of chronic pain and need some time off your work or school to focus on your health, you might need a sick note to officially communicate your absence. You can get a sick note online within minutes, by a licensed doctor, from the comfort of your home. So you don’t have to worry about required documentation for your official leave and focus on your well-being.