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How to Reduce Your Neuropathic Pain
Pain is your body’s response to an injury or illness as it tries to keep you safe from immediate danger or further damage. Typically, pain is divided into two categories: nociceptive and neuropathic.
Nociceptive pain is the most common type, and it happens when nociceptors around your body detect any harm to your skin, muscles, bones, or other tissues. So, when you stub your toe, break a bone, or touch a hot stove, nociceptors send signals to your brain that it interprets as pain.
Alternatively, neuropathic pain is a result of neurological damage. This pain is usually caused by a chronic nerve disease, although it can also stem from an injury or infection. When you have nerve damage, your nerves start sending out incorrect pain signals, resulting in neuropathic pain.
Since neuropathic pain can have various causes and locations, how it’s treated or managed is different for everyone. So, our team at RapidRecovery TMS in Wilmington, North Carolina, wants to examine the various causes of neuropathic pain and explore some ways to reduce pain and boost quality of life.
Common causes of neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain is often described as shooting, stabbing, or burning. It can be constant or come on suddenly, feeling like an electric shock. You may also find yourself extra sensitive to touch and extreme temperatures.
Anything that causes damage to your brain, spinal cord, or nerves can lead to neuropathic pain. These are some of the more common causes:
- Infections such as HIV/AIDS or shingles
- Nerve disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Phantom limb pain after amputation
- Severe alcohol abuse
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Spinal decompression
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Diabetes
Common cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy drugs, can also cause neuropathic pain.
How to effectively manage neuropathic pain
One of the first steps in treating neuropathic pain is finding the cause. At RapidRecovery TMS, we offer various diagnostic procedures, such as blood tests, nerve function tests, and imaging tests. If we can treat the underlying cause, we make that a priority. However, that might not always be possible.
Commonly used treatments for neuropathic pain management include over-the-counter pain medications, nerve blocks, anti-seizure medications, and physical therapy. Neuropathic pain can also cause emotional distress, which can worsen the pain. So, therapy and antidepressants can be a helpful supplement to other treatments.
We also recommend making healthy lifestyle choices wherever possible. Even if these habits don’t reduce your pain, they should keep it from worsening. Eat a nutritious diet, move your body regularly, stop smoking, and limit alcohol intake.
Another innovative treatment offered at RapidRecovery TMS is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. TMS therapy utilizes a coil placed on your head that sends electromagnetic pulses to different portions of your brain. When used for neuropathic pain, the pulses block pain signals being sent from your damaged nerves to your brain.
Get started with effective neuropathic pain relief by scheduling an appointment with our RapidRecovery TMS team. Simply call our office at 910-557-8165 or use our convenient online booking feature today.