Sometimes, the pain is scary.
You don’t know where the pain is coming from. Is the pain potentially harmful? Is it a sign of a serious condition or problem?
If you have unexplained nerve pain, you may be worried. The good news is that identifying the cause of nerve pain often leads to an improvement in the pain experience.
There are various common causes of nerve pain. Keep reading to learn about some of the most common causes.
Disease
A disease can cause nerve pain in a variety of ways. Neuralgia, which refers to pain caused by damage to the nerve or inflammation of the nerve, is one of the most common causes of nerve pain.
Neuropathy, or nerve damage due to various illnesses and conditions, is another common cause. Diabetes often causes nerve pain due to its impact on blood sugar regulation, where it causes low levels of sugar that can damage the nerves.
That damage can result in numbness, tingling, and burning sensations in the nerves. Other diseases that can cause nerve pain include shingles, multiple sclerosis, lupus, Lyme disease, tumors, and even systemic infections.
Infection
Infection is a leading cause of nerve pain. The inflammation generated by infections can cause nerve damage leading to nerve pain in areas of the body that are far away from the site of the infection itself.
Infections can also cause other nerve disorders, such as trigeminal neuralgia and altered sensation in the affected area. Bacterial infections can affect the nerve cells or the nerve itself, leading to nerve pain.
Viral infections have a similar effect, damaging the nerve cells and often leading to severe pain that can last for long periods of time. Fungal and mold infections can cause nerve pain as well.
Injury or Trauma
Injury or trauma can cause nerve pain, which is often described as a burning, aching, or sharp shooting pain. Trauma or injury to the peripheral nervous system can interrupt the transmission of normal signals between nerves, resulting in altered nerve conduction, hyperexcitability, and pain.
Nerve pain may be diffuse and affect multiple areas, or it may be more localized. It can be continuous, or it can come and go. In some cases, nerve pain may linger for days, months, or even years after the initial trauma or injury.
Treatment for nerve pain depends on the underlying cause and may involve medications to manage the inflammation, reduce nerve pain, and improve nerve function, as well as physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, and alternative therapies.
Drugs
Drugs are often prescribed to treat many medical conditions, but they can also cause nerve pain. Illicit drugs such as cocaine, opioids, hallucinogens, and marijuana can cause nerve pain when abused. Some prescription drugs can be neurotoxic, meaning they can damage or destroy neurons, which are the nerve cells that carry electrical signals throughout the body.
Drugs can also interfere with the normal transmission of nerve signals by blocking the flow of neurotransmitters, which allow nerve cells to communicate with each other. This disruption can cause intense sensations of pain, tingling, and other nerve pain symptoms.
To know more about the causes of nerve pain and how to treat them, read this blog article.
Explore the Causes of Nerve Pain
Nerve pain is a very serious condition, and it affects millions of people around the world. Knowing what possible causes of nerve pain can help people make well-informed decisions.
It is important to seek medical advice to manage nerve pain most effectively. Together, we can beat nerve pain!
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