Nerve: Understanding, Causes, and Remedies

What is Nerve Injury?

When a nerve is damaged, signal transmission from one side of the brain to the other is disrupted, muscles stop working and there is a loss of sensation in the area supplied by that nerve.

There are three main types of nerve damage. In the first type, the nerve is compressed and cannot function normally for a short time, but all the internal wiring remains intact. In this type of damage, the nerve heals completely and leaves no defects. In the second type, the inner cables are damaged but the outer layer remains intact. In the third type, the nerve is severed and both the outer layer and the inner wires are cut. This type of injury requires nerve repair to restore the nerve. Dr Sachin AdukiaBest Nerve Treatment Near Bhandup

What is the treatment

Countless nerves in our body send signals to the brain, including pain. Pain fulfills a very important function - it protects our body from external damage. But for people with nerve pain, this signaling is not done properly. They feel the pain but don't know what is causing it. Nerve pain, also called peripheral neuropathy or peripheral neuritis, is often caused by physical injury or illness.

Cancer and other tumors can cause neuropathic pain because tumors put pressure on the surrounding nerves. Chemotherapy drugs can also cause nerve pain because they can damage nerves. One of the first symptoms of HIV infection is pain in the hands and feet. Diabetics are prone to nerve pain because high blood sugar levels can damage nerves. In postherpetic neuralgia, a person can suffer from severe nerve pain. Nerves can also be cut, pinched or crushed due to physical trauma, which can also lead to nerve pain. Dr Sachin AdukiaBest Nerve Treatment Near Bhandup

Treatment for nerve pain depends on the age of the patient, the underlying cause, the cost and possible side effects. In such cases, the underlying condition should be treated. Various treatment options for nerve pain include topical treatments, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, analgesics, electrical stimulation and in some cases surgery.Dr Sachin AdukiaBest Nerve Treatment Near Bhandup

How does nerve pain feel?

Nerve pain, also called neuralgia, is a very specific type of pain associated with a stabbing, shooting or burning sensation. The pain can feel like an electric shock, meaning it can be sharp and sudden. It causes hypersensitivity to certain stimuli, such as cold or touch, and is accompanied by pain sensations. The pain increases at night.Dr Sachin AdukiaBest Nerve Treatment Near Bhandup

Muscle pain is an uncomfortable pain that is usually felt as stiffness in the muscles. It is a localized pain that only gets worse when certain muscles are exercised. Nerve pain, on the other hand, feels like a sharp, pressing or burning pain that also causes numbness and tingling. It can be constant or intermittent. The pain can be felt in the nerves as well as in the skin over them.Dr Sachin AdukiaBest Nerve Treatment Near Bhandup

How is treatment administered?

Treatment for nerve pain includes the use of anticonvulsants and tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline and desipramine. There are other prescription antidepressants such as venlafaxine and bupropion, which have been shown to be very effective in some people. Doctors may also prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine and citalopram. Sometimes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aleve or Motrin are prescribed to treat nerve pain.Dr Sachin AdukiaBest Nerve Treatment Near Bhandup

Sometimes topical products such as creams, gels, lotions and patches can also help with nerve pain. A doctor may recommend anticonvulsant medicines along with antidepressants for a patient with nerve pain. Tricyclic antidepressants can help with nerve pain caused by diabetes, HIV or cancer chemotherapy. People with severe nerve pain or nerve pain caused by cancer often prefer opioid painkillers. In addition, some treatments, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), use electrical impulses to block the pain signals sent by damaged nerves.Dr Sachin AdukiaBest Nerve Treatment Near Bhandup

If all other treatments fail, your doctor may recommend analgesic injections to relieve pain. Your doctor may also recommend surgery. Sometimes alternative treatments such as meditation, acupuncture and massaging the affected nerve can also provide positive results. Lifestyle changes can also help with nerve pain.

Does nerve pain go away?

If the nerve pain or neuralgia is mild, it usually goes away on its own. In such cases, no treatment is required and the pain sometimes disappears on its own and then subsides again the next moment. On the other hand, neuralgia can in some cases be chronic and lead to prolonged and severe pain. It should always be treated under the supervision of a specialist.Dr Sachin AdukiaBest Nerve Treatment Near Bhandup