What is Nerve Pain?
The nervous system is pretty complex, it’s responsible for all communication between your body parts and the control center that is your brain. In fact, it’s so complex that scientists are still learning more about just how vast the nervous system is – so it makes sense that nerve pain can come from a range of problems, either in the brain and spinal cord, or in the nerves themselves that run to muscles and organs.
Nerve pain can happen to anybody who suffers a severe injury, like a car accident or large fall, or it can be caused by illness – we’ll look into a couple of the most common causes here. Because of that, really anybody can experience nerve pain.
People who have nerve pain often find that it can be debilitating, interfering with important aspects of their life like sleep, and work. And similarly to chronic pain, anxiety and depression often follow nerve pain.
What Causes Nerve Pain?
There are four kinds of nerves in your body: motor, sensory, autonomic and cranial. Any one of these nerve types can become damaged, leading to nerve pain. Some of the most common causes include:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Diabetes
- Tumors
- Exposure to poisons
What are the Symptoms of Nerve Pain?
Nerve pain can present in different ways, but the overwhelming majority of Americans suffering from it agree that it is excruciating. It can feel like:
- a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation
- a sharp and sudden electric shock
- extreme sensitivity to touch or cold
- extreme sensitivity to normal stimuli, such as brushing the skin
What are my Treatment Options for Nerve Pain?
Because the nervous system is so complex, it’s critical that you see a licensed professional if you believe you are experiencing nerve pain. Without the proper care, the damaged nerves may worsen over time, in turn making your pain worse.
Some of the ways your doctor may treat your pain are:
- Chiropractic care – depending on where your pain is presenting, your doctor may suggest a chiropractic adjustment to ensure no spinal abnormalities are pinching the nerves encased in the spinal column.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation – this kind of nerve stimulation can be used to literally block the transmission of pain sensations to your brain, nullifying the nerve pain.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nerve Pain
1. What does nerve pain feel like?
Nerve pain will feel different depending on the person, and where the nerve damage/pain is originating from. Typically though, nerve pain is characterized by feelings of shooting, stabbing, shocking and sometimes extreme sensitivity.
2. What helps nerve pain?
Nerve pain is not a medical condition that you can treat at home – it is crucial that you seek the care of a licensed medical professional to ensure your nerve pain is properly diagnosed, located and treated. Schedule a free assessment here.
