Nerve Pain

Nerve pain can occur from a wide-variety of influences and conditions such as disease or tissue injury that affects the nervous system of the body. This is commonly referred to as neuropathic pain (e.g. neuralgia, nerve trauma, carpal tunnel syndrome) or nociceptive pain (e.g. arthritis or infection - from inflammation, sprains, myofascial pain - which may imply abnormal muscle stresses). 

 

What causes nerve pain?

Nerve pain is caused by problems with the nerve(s) that sends messages to and from the brain. If the nerve fibres are damaged or injured it is likely that the nerve fibres will send pain messages to the brain by sending incorrect signals to other pain centres of the body. 

 

What are the symptoms?

People with nerve pain may often describe their pain as burning, aching, stabbing, throbbing, tingling, numbness, shooting (similar to an electric shock) with signs of muscle weakness and altered reflexes. 

 

Neuropathic and Nociceptive nerve pain 

 

Neuropathic Nerve Pain 

Neuropathic pain is triggered from injury or malfunction in the peripheral or central nervous system although the injury may or may not necessarily involve damage to the nervous system. This type of pain is often chronic (persistent)

 

Nociceptive Nerve Pain

This type of pain often resolves as the tissue damage heals, however arthritic conditions is the exception as there is no time restriction. 

 

In certain complex cases the pain can be caused by a combination of neuropathic and nociceptive influences e.g. headache 

 

Pinched Nerve Pain 

A pinched nerve can result from many influences such as excessive pressure (compression on a nerve root), injury or from adjacent structures surrounding the nerve e.g. muscles, tendons, bones leading to disruption and or malfunction e.g. sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome. 

 

For more information on how we can help you with your pain or have any concerns with a painful condition, then please don't hesitate to get in touch.