Chronic neuropathic pain
Chronic pain
Chronic pain is any pain that lasts longer than three months and continues after the original cause has healed. Unlike acute pain, which happens because of injury or illness and then resolves after a short time, chronic pain persists without a clear reason.
There are two types of chronic pain:
- Chronic primary pain, which is ongoing pain without a clear underlying condition. In this instance, pain is considered a condition and not a symptom.
- Chronic secondary pain, which is pain as a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as chronic cancer pain.
Neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain caused by damage or disease affecting the nerves or nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It’s different to pain from an injury as it’s not caused by tissue damage. Instead, the pain comes from problems with the nerves themselves.
It can affect any part of the body and may range from mild to severe, often interfering with daily life, mood, and sleep. For many people, nerve pain becomes more than just a physical symptom and can impact emotions, wellbeing and social aspects of life.
At Affidea neuraCare, we understand how complex and personal neuropathic pain can be. That’s why we take a holistic, tailored approach to care, combining deep medical expertise with understanding support to help you feel in control again and live well.
Learn more about the signs and symptoms of nerve pain, potential causes, and the innovative approach to pain management by leading neurologists here at Affidea neuraCare.
Neuropathic pain can feel different from other types of pain. Symptoms can be unusual and unpredictable because it’s caused by problems with nerves. They may affect a single area or radiate along a nerve pathway with varying degrees of intensity.
Symptoms can be triggered by a normally non-painful stimulus, such as a light touch or clothing, or happen spontaneously without any stimulus at all. The pain may be a constant feeling throughout the day or something that comes and goes as flare-ups.
If you have neuropathic pain, you may have:
- Burning or shooting pains similar to electric shocks
- Painful sensations triggered by a normally non-painful stimulus (called allodynia)
- Prickling or itching sensations
- Numbness or increased sensitivity to touch or temperature (called dysesthesia)
- Muscle weakness or spasms
- Fatigue
- Problems with short-term memory and concentration
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Changes in mood, such as feelings of anxiety, irritability, or depression
Pain is very subjective, so it can be helpful to record your symptoms and how they make you feel. For many people, nerve pain not only causes physical problems but also impacts their emotions, social relationships, and work or studies over time.
Early recognition by a specialist and the right combination of treatments can make a positive difference, helping you control your symptoms and feel more like yourself again.
Pain is complex, and it’s not always clear why some people develop neuropathic pain and others do not. For some people, they may develop symptoms following an injury or another health condition like multiple sclerosis. For others, there is no known cause.
Neuropathic pain can be caused by:
- Pinched nerves, such as sciatica or carpal tunnel syndrome
- Nerve damage after an injury or surgery , such as phantom limb syndrome after limb loss
- Neuroma, which is where scar tissue forms in and around damaged nerve fibres due to improper healing
- Diabetes can lead to diabetic neuropathy
- Shingles can cause post-herpetic neuralgia
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Certain cancers or cancer treatments
- HIV or polio
- Stroke
Other causes include malnutrition, lack of vitamin B12, high alcohol intake, and phantom pain where a limb used to be.
Understanding what’s causing the nerve damage and triggering your pain helps tailor your treatment to target the source, not just the symptoms. This helps improve outcomes, reduce unnecessary discomfort and support lasting relief
Diagnosing neuropathic pain starts with a careful assessment to understand your symptoms and create a comprehensive picture of your health. Because nerve pain can vary in symptoms and causes, an accurate diagnosis is essential to guide the most effective treatment.
Your initial assessment may include:
- A consultation to discuss your symptoms, how they’re affecting you and your life, and your medical history
- Blood tests to check your overall health and signs of infection, vitamin deficiencies or other conditions
- Electrodiagnostic tests to test your nerve and muscle health, such as an EMG and a nerve conduction study such as electroneurography (ENoG)
Following your consultation with your neurologist, they’ll design a care and support plan combining medical and non-medical therapies with you at the centre. The aim is to effectively manage your pain and address other affected areas, such as sleep, work or study, or relationships.
If an underlying condition is suspected, your neurologist may request further tests and scans to help confirm a diagnosis.
It’s common for people with chronic pain to struggle with their symptoms for years, but it doesn’t have to be this way. A neurological specialist can help design a new treatment approach combining medicines and other therapies to help you find relief.
A pain management plan may involve a combination of:
- Medications, including both painkillers and non-painkillers
- Pain management programms to help you develop effective techniques to manage your pain
- Physiotherapy focuses on improving your physical ability to help you do the things you enjoy again
- Electrical neuromodulation uses electrical impulses to block or alter pain signalling in the nervous system, such as TENS or PENS – this is an option for people whose pain cannot be effectively managed with other treatments
- Supportive care for ongoing guidance and emotional support
You don’t have to face chronic pain alone. We’re specialists in neurology and are here to support you with the latest tools and a long-term plan to help you move forward with confidence.
