What Causes Nerve Pain? How You Can Treat and Avoid It

If you’ve ever felt a tingling or burning sensation somewhere on or along your body, odds are you’ve been experiencing nerve pain. This can take various different forms and has a variety of causes. It can feel like anything from pinpricks to shocks of electricity. Either way, it’s an incredibly discomforting ailment for those who have it. Not everyone who suffers knows what exactly it is that causes their pain, so finding the right way to treat it can be difficult.

The Causes

There are several known causes of nerve pain. Several diseases lead to conditions like diabetes, Celiac disease, and Lyme disease. Things like trauma and autoimmune conditions can also result in nerve pain. For some, the source of the discomfort is easily identifiable. It’s either a side effect of a more serious condition or nerve damage.

For others, the source of the pain is undetermined. When this happens, it’s called ‘idiopathic neuropathy’, or unexplained nerve pain. This pain could be the result of nerve damage that occurred earlier on, but testing is unable to pinpoint the exact how, when, or why.

Painkillers

Though it may seem like the obvious option, powerful painkillers are usually not the first solution doctors turn to when treating this condition. Instead, doctors usually prescribe anti-inflammatories and/or pain relievers. Sadly, over-the-counter painkillers may not treat all problems effectively. Medication like opioids are highly addictive and have intense side effect, but they can be necessary for extreme or severe pain.

Topical Treatment

Some topical ointments and creams can do a good job of easing discomfort that’s in a localized area. Prescription topical treatments can be directly applied to the area and focus on caring for the pain on your skin.

Antidepressants and Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants were originally developed to treat epilepsy though they have also been shown to help with nerve pain. When used in combination with antidepressants, the effect they have on the body is maximized. It may take trial and error to find out what combination works for you, but it could end up extremely beneficial.

Do keep in mind that not all treatments work for all conditions. For example, though this mixture of antidepressants and anticonvulsants tends to work for diabetic nerve pain, it doesn’t tend to work for discomfort caused by HIV or cancer chemotherapy.

Electrical Stimulation

There are some treatments that focus on using electrical impulses to help ease the pain. These impulses are supposed to block the pain messages sent by the damaged nerves to the brain. If these messages are successfully blocked, then you won’t actually have to feel the result of your damaged nerves.

Read: Why Reflexology is Beneficial

There are two popular kinds of electrical stimulation: TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Neither are invasive, and are relatively mild to undergo.

Lifestyle Changes

More exercise and healthier eating has been known to help ease some of the discomfort associated with nerve pain. Though it won’t cure, it can make living with the pain easier. Make sure that you remain active in your day-to-day lifestyle. Walk, run, swim, or do something that brings your heartrate up. Ensure that your body receives all the nutrients it needs daily, and take supplements if you’re unable to achieve those daily goals. Try relaxation techniques like meditation, and practice keeping both your mind and body healthy. Doing this can both treat and prevent future nerve pain from occurring.

Complementary Treatments

There are other approaches to treatment that are alternatives to medication. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific areas of the body. Though this practice has mixed results, it can be beneficial. Massages are similar in that they can ease the tension within your body and make you feel well as a whole. By massaging specific parts of the body, a masseuse can help your body relax and loosen up.

Treating nerve pain can be a difficult endeavor, but there are multiple options for you to try. For more information, visit websites like NervePainTreatment.Org that are focused on providing the public with reviews of different treatments and supplements.