Nerve Pain / Neuropathic pain / Peripheral Neuropathy

Nerve pain results from the injury of nerves, and is commonly described as a burning or tingling sensation occurring in the hands and feet. However, any body part may become affected. Many conditions may cause injury to nerves including:

• Infections such as Shingles, HIV, hepatitis C, and Lyme disease
• Nutritional disorders such as alcohol use and vitamin deficiencies
• Medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and Sjogren’s syndrome
• Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation
• Other causes or unknown called idiopathic

To determine whether you are suffering from nerve pain or from another condition, your provider will start with a comprehensive medical review and physical exam. Diagnostic tests that include x-rays, electromyography, lab results, and/or MRIs will also be reviewed.

Nerve-related pain may be treated in many ways including non-opioid adjuvant medications, interventional procedures such as spinal cord stimulator, and complementary therapies such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, and massage therapy. Nerve pain may be treated as part of a care team model involving pain psychology, pain management, and primary care specialties working together.