Neuralgia is defined as severe and sharp pain caused by a damaged or irritated nerve. While the pain can occur anywhere in the body, symptoms can range from mild to severe. Age, infections, and certain chronic conditions can cause this condition. While treatment is generally dependent on the underlying cause, some medications and surgical procedures can effectively treat neuralgia.
Severe neuralgia can negatively impact a person's life and hinder the performance of daily tasks. For this reason, if complaints arise and symptoms are observed, it is important to first seek support from a specialist.
What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Neuralgia?
Although the exact causes of neuralgia are not known, there are many factors that can lead to this condition. Potential causative factors may include advanced age, diabetes, kidney disease, nerve compression resulting from various tumors, and certain infections. The causes of neuralgia can be listed as follows:
Infections
It is one of the serious complications that can arise as a result of infections such as shingles, Lyme disease, or HIV. This condition is more commonly observed in the elderly compared to young and adult individuals.
Compression
Compression on the nerves can also lead to this condition. It may occur in the event of nerve compression originating from bones, blood vessels, or tumors.
Diabetes
High blood sugar damages nerve cells as well as blood vessels. In such cases, the risk of developing diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy is high. Numbness or burning sensations may occur in the hands and feet.
Depending on the type and severity of the disease, intense and distinct symptoms may appear in certain parts of the body. Symptoms of neuralgia can be listed as follows:
- Burning or stinging pain
- Tingling or numbness
- Involuntary muscle twitching or cramping
What Are the Types of Neuralgia?
Commonly seen types of neuralgia include Trigeminal Neuralgia, Postherpetic Neuralgia, Occipital Neuralgia, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia. These are pains that develop in certain parts of the body due to damage to the nerves.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
It is known as the most frequently encountered type among neuralgias and involves the trigeminal nerve in the head region. This nerve has 3 branches that send signals from the brain to the face, mouth, teeth, and nose. Extreme sensitivity occurs in the face. Piercing pains may arise during situations such as touching the face, eating, shaving, speaking, or smiling.
Postherpetic Neuralgia
It occurs as a painful condition affecting the nerves in the skin. It is the most common complication of shingles. Shingles is a viral infection that causes itching, blisters, and painful skin rashes on the skin. With proper treatment, the resulting pain and skin lesions heal. However, this condition may recur or healing may not be observed. The risk of its occurrence increases with advancing age.
Occipital Neuralgia
It is a type that affects the occipital nerves, which originate from the neck and send signals to the back of the head. While it can cause continuous pain, pain may also be experienced behind the eyes.
Peripheral Neuralgia
Also referred to as peripheral neuropathy, this condition refers to pain that occurs due to nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system. It can involve all nerve fibers outside the brain and spinal cord.
How Is Neuralgia Diagnosed?
Since it can arise from various issues, there is no single test that can diagnose neuralgia. When symptoms appear, he must consult a specialist without losing time and necessary checks must be performed. The physician learns the patient's medical history in detail and conducts a neurological examination.
While a blood test can be applied to check for infection conditions, imaging techniques can be utilized to determine whether there is nerve compression. In the event of suspected neuralgia diagnosis, the specialist can detect tumors or different conditions using Computed Tomography (CT), MRI, or different imaging methods.
What Are the Treatment Methods for Neuralgia?
Neuralgia treatment is carried out depending on the underlying causes. The type and severity of the condition must be determined and treatment planning must be made based on that condition. Depending on a definitive diagnosis, drug use or surgical intervention may be applied to him. Prescription drugs are generally used in the treatment of neuralgia whose cause cannot be determined.
Drug therapy is applied to control severe pain conditions and reduce the frequency of symptoms. Alongside medications, local creams, nerve blocks, and percutaneous procedures are also recommended to him. Depending on the type of disease, neuropathic pain medications, antidepressants, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used in treatment. In some cases, the most effective treatment method is surgery.
