What do you need to know about Neuropathic pain?
The disease or lesion of the somatosensory system causes neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is associated with changes in ion channels, an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory somatosensory signaling. This may cause variations in the modulation of pain messages in the central nervous system. It is characterized as a syndrome, not a disease, as several signs and symptoms exist. When there is some injury to a nerve due to mutation or damage to the nerve, it also causes neuropathic pain (NP).
Prevalence Of Neuropathic Pain:
More than 2 million in the United States of America (USA) are affected by neuropathic pain, as suggested by recent studies. 17% of people with neuropathic pain listed their health-related quality of life as “worse than death.” 23% with knee hip arthroplasty rated their pain as neuropathic. Cancer pain individuals 18.7%-27.6% reported their pain as neuropathic in origin.
Pathophysiology Of Neuropathic Pain:
Injury affecting the peripheral nerves is frequently the cause of peripheral neuropathic pain. Abnormal signaling can result from diseases such as diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, or traumatic nerve injury. When this happens, injured nerve fibers may become highly excitable and discharge abruptly or react to stimuli that do not hurt, increasing the pain sensation.
Central nerve pain
On the other hand, central nerve pain results from problems with the central nervous system, specifically the brain or spinal cord. Such disorders as multiple sclerosis, stroke, or spinal cord injury may cause. Pain signals are disrupted, even if there is no tissue damage.
Need to understand before treating neuropathic pain.
There are various processes involved in neuropathic pain. Neuroinflammation is An important factor involving immune cells and inflammatory mediators that sensitize. Solving neuropathic pain needs an understanding of its pathophysiology to design effective treatment. For those with neuropathic pain, addressing particular physiological and molecular pathways implicated in abnormal pain signaling can help decrease symptoms and enhance quality of life.
Different types of Neuropathic pain
Peripheral Neuropathy:
The body and central nervous system interact through peripheral nerves. Peripheral damage to the nerves may result in neuropathy.
- Causes: Causes include infections, diabetes, and alcohol intake, as well as certain drugs.
- Signs and symptoms: Signs and symptoms include burning, tingling, numbness, and limb weakness.
Diabetic Neuropathy:
It is a particular type of peripheral neuropathy linked to diabetes.
- Causes: Diabetes patients’ constant high blood sugar levels.
- Symptoms: Hands and foot pain, tingling, or numbness.
Chronic Painful Neuralgia:
It appears as a side effect of an infection resulting from herpes zoster.
Causes: damage to the nerves induced by the varicella-zoster virus.
Symptoms: Symptoms include intense pain of rash or itchy area.
Trigeminal Neuralgia:
Trigeminal irritation of the nerve results in facial pain.
- Causes: Causes are age, multiple sclerosis, and compression of the trigeminal nerve by a blood vessel.
- Symptoms: A sudden, sharp facial pain that feels like an electrical shock.
The sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated, frequently radiating from the lower back to the legs.
Causes are injury, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs.
Signs and symptoms include numbness, tingling, or shooting pain along the sciatic nerve pathway.
Central Pain Syndrome:
Starts from harm or an issue in the central nervous system (spinal cord or brain).
- Causes: Causes are trauma, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.
- Symptoms: Severe, tingling, or burning pain that abnormal sensations can trigger.
Neuropathy Created by Chemotherapy:
- An allergic reaction to some chemotherapy drugs.
- Causes: Peripheral damage to nerves from chemotherapy.
- Symptoms: Hand and foot pain, tingling, or numbness.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS):
- Happens after a limb-related trauma, surgery, or injury.
- Causes: Abnormal reaction to trauma or injury.
- Symptoms are swelling, temperature and color changes in the skin, and constant, excruciating pain.
Overall symptoms of Neuropathic pain:
There are many symptoms of Neuropathic pain, but their patients most commonly claim the following:
- Burning Sensation
- Electric Shock-Like Pain
- Tingling or Pins and Needles
- Numbness
- Hyperalgesia
- Allodynia