Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain arises from damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system—either peripheral nerves, the spinal cord, or brain pathways. Common causes include diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles), chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, nerve compression (e.g., carpal tunnel), traumatic nerve injury, phantom limb pain after amputation, and central pain syndromes following stroke or spinal cord injury.
Symptoms
Burning or electric-shock sensations along the affected nerve distribution
Tingling (“pins and needles”) or numbness
Allodynia: pain from normally non-painful stimuli (light touch, temperature changes)
Hyperalgesia: exaggerated pain response to mildly painful inputs
Sharp, shooting pains that may occur spontaneously or be triggered by movement
Sensory loss or weakness if large-fiber nerves are involved
Common Treatments:
Topical Analgesics, Over-The-Counter Medications