Causes
Nerve pain occurs when a nerve is physically injured, irritated, inflamed, or damaged due to a disease. Many health conditions can lead to nerve pain, including:
- Diabetes (Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy)
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Cancer & Chemotherapy
- Spinal Stenosis
- Herniated Disk
- Carpal tunnel
- Cubital Tunnel
- Postherpetic neuralgia (Shingles)
- Alcholism
If nerve pain goes untreated it can become a chronic condition. Biochemical changes can occur over time that make the nerves hypersensitive and magnifies the pain, called central sensitization.
Symptoms
The symptoms you experience depend on the types of nerves that are damaged.
- Sensory nerve damage is known for causing electric-shock pain, as well as pins and needle sensation and/or burning pain and numbness.
- Motor nerves damage leads to symptoms like muscle cramps, twitching, or weakness
- Autonomic nerve damage leads to dizziness, nausea, and an abnormal heart rate/blood pressure.
Treatment
Medications may be used in the initial treatment of nerve pain, however they are not always effective and have unwanted side effects. The Interventional Pain Doctors team of orthopedic/spine and pain management specialists offer cutting edge treatments that relieve nerve pain without medication, including:
The symptoms you experience depend on the types of nerves that are damaged.
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): uses your own blood’s healing capabilities. Growth factors within your own platelets have regenerative capabilities to stimulate nerve growth and recovery
- Stem Cell Therapy: Concentrated samples of your own stem cells can be placed at the site of damage to help regenerate damaged nerve tissue and to stimulate growth.
- Nerve blocks: Image guided nerve blocks can deliver local anesthestic and anti-inflammatory medication to the site of nerve injury for diagnostic and theurapeutic benefit.
- Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS): Once an injured nerve is identified it can be blocked electrically using a small lead, like a pacemaker wire. The Interventional Pain Doctors team of orthopedic/spine and pain management specialists offer this cutting edge, FDA approved therapy.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): After a diagnostic block confirms the source of pain, heat in the form of FM radiowaves is used to desensitize the nerve causing the pain. Relief typically lasts 9-12 months and can be repeated as necessary.
- Neuormodulation (SCS): An FDA approved therapy that can block pain at the level of the spinal cord using a small lead like a pacemaker wire and a battery. New research shows that this is effective for treating painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
