Neuralgia (Nerve Pain) - Symptoms, Causes, Therapy

What are nerve pains?

The term neuralgia stands for pain, which is usually confined to the area of ​​spread of a nerve. However, several nerves may be affected simultaneously. Neuralgia causes recurrent, unbearable, stabbing pains that can almost drive those affected insane. Since the pain is triggered directly by the nerves and radiates from them, they are perceived as particularly intense by those affected and are different from all other types of pain. Here is a brief overview of nerve pain:

• definition: Neuralgia refers to pain that goes directly from the nerves. Normally, the nerves are used as a conduit of pain. In case of nerve pain, however, the pain system itself is affected.
• frequency: According to estimates, around 300,000 people in Germany suffer from neuralgia.
• symptoms: Typical are sudden onset of pain and / or burning persistent pain, sensitivity to touch, abnormal sensations such as tingling or numbness. The pain is perceived in the affected body region or radiate from it.
• causes: The causes of nerve pain can be diverse. On the one hand, certain diseases such as shingles or Lyme disease can cause neuralgia. On the other hand, nerve pain can also be the result of surgery, herniated discs, tumors, poisoning or even mental stress.
• treatment: The therapy depends on the cause of the neuralgia. Often drugs such as anti-epileptic drugs, muscle relaxants and local anesthesia are used. In some cases, surgery is needed. Naturopathic procedures can support the healing process.

contents

• What are nerve pains?
• symptoms
• causes
• Diseases as a cause
• Lyme disease as a trigger
• Shingles as a trigger
• Pudendal neuralgia
• trigeminal neuralgia
• Pinched sciatic nerve
• treatment
• Naturopathic treatment
• baunscheidtism
• Quaddeltherapie
• Homeopathy in neuralgia

symptoms

Since neuralgia affects the nerves themselves, the pain differs fundamentally from all other types of pain, such as tumor, head or back pain. The nerve pain is perceived in the diseased body region. This can occur so suddenly that the patient flinches or cries out in pain. Typical of neuralgia are:

• Sudden onset, shooting, piercing pain,
• burning permanent pain,
• Touch sensitivity of the affected region,
• Sensations such as tingling in the limbs, a numbness in the legs or the falling asleep of the hands.

Nerve pain can theoretically occur along all the nerves of the body. (Image: Sagittaria / fotolia.com)

causes

The causes are many. Mostly it is based on irritation of the nerve. But also pressure, repressions or inflammations can lead to nerve pain. An inflammatory process that takes place right next to the nerve, such as a tooth rooting, is also a possible cause of neuralgia.

Other possible causes

A tumor-pushing tumor, a swelling, or the intervertebral disc that obstructs the nerve in its course are all potential causes of nerve pain. Other triggers are so-called bottleneck syndromes. These are physiologically narrow points in the body where a nerve is relatively often pinched. They are located, inter alia, in the elbow, on the wrist or in the inguinal canal. Furthermore, poisoning, stress and mental stress can lead to nerve pain.

Diseases as a cause

Almost every nerve that is damaged can cause nerve pain. Some common diseases that cause nerve pain are discussed below.

Almost every damaged nerve can trigger neuralgia. (Image: staras / fotolia.com)

Lyme disease as a trigger

In connection with a Lyme disease neuralgic symptoms are possible. By a tick bite the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi can be transferred. This triggers an infection after an incubation period of days to weeks, which manifests itself in the skin, the lymph nodes, in the heart, the joints and also in the nervous system. Especially with the late form of Lyme disease can neuralgic complaints such as burning, stinging and tingling occur in almost every part of the body and especially at night.

Shingles as a trigger

Shingles is another of these diseases, which in some cases can be followed by so-called post-zoster neuralgia. Those affected have already lived through the acute phase of shingles (viral disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus). After once passed through chickenpox, the viruses remain in the body and can be active again with decreasing immunity.

As part of a shingles, patients experience a painful itchy rash, fever, and a general malaise. As a complication it can come in the further course to the postzoster neuralgia. Especially older patients are more likely to suffer from nerve pain. This creates einschießende, burning, sometimes unbearable pain in the diseased area. This form of neuralgia can last for years.

Various diseases such as shingles or Lyme disease can be the trigger for nerve pain. (Image: hawanafsu / fotolia.com)

Pudendal neuralgia

A rare cause of severe, shooting pain is pudendal neuralgia. The perineal, genital and anal regions are affected. The cause of this neuralgia is mechanical or inflammatory damage to the nerve. Also, this disease can occur secondarily, in the context of shingles. Patients suffering from diabetes may also be affected.

trigeminal neuralgia

The trigeminal neuralgia gets its name from the nerve that is damaged, namely the trigeminal nerve. This is the fifth cranial nerve, consisting of three branches that feed the forehead, upper jaw and lower jaw. Trigeminal neuralgia results from compression of the trigeminal root in tumors or inflammation. It usually affects people over 50 years of age or patients already suffering from neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

Those affected suffer lightning-like attacks of pain that, while brief, are extremely unpleasant and can occur every few minutes. The pain is triggered by chewing, speaking, or by light touch, and in most cases is one-sided, most often affecting the second and third branches of the trigeminal nerve. Due to the unbearable pain many sufferers avoid eating and therefore lose weight.

Pinched sciatic nerve

In a sciatica, the irritation of the sciatic nerve leads to neuralgic pain, triggered by various causes. For example, in the case of a herniated disc in the lower part of the spinal column, the sciatic nerve can be pinched by pressure from the nucleus of the disc and a corresponding neuralgia can be triggered. But also tumors, swellings or metastases can compress the nervus sciatic nerve and cause sciatica pain.

A herniated disc can trigger neuralgia. (Image: marga / fotolia.com)

If the vertebrae are destroyed, this can also lead to a squeezing of the sciatic nerve. In addition, during the birthing process there is a risk for the mother to develop neuralgia here. The unborn child's head is near the sciatic nerve at birth and the compression can severely affect the nerve.

treatment

For the treatment exist different procedures and medicines. However, the treatment of nerve pain is not always easy. The type of therapy depends on the causes of the nerve pain.

Therapy of trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia presents a challenge for the treating therapist. Initially, anticonvulsants are commonly used. These are medicines that are normally used to treat epilepsy, but also have a positive effect on neuralgia. Various active substances are available on the market, which are used depending on their compatibility.

In addition, muscle relaxants are among the drugs that have their place in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. However, the medications can lead to the most diverse side effects. Since these medicines can affect the blood picture, this should be monitored regularly during therapy.

The use of local anesthetics has also proven successful in the treatment. The affected nerves are blocked by the injected local anesthetic at the exit sites. If all medical treatment attempts are unsuccessful, surgery is rarely required. In this case, for example, with the help of a heat lesion, the affected nerve is damaged or obliterated.

Therapy of sciatica

In the case of neuralgia triggered by sciatica, the cause must be treated, that is the reason for the compression. If the trigger is a herniated disc, it is usually treated conservatively with painkillers and appropriate physiotherapy. If swelling and inflammation recede, the irritated nerve is relieved and the neuralgia stops.

Neuralgia due to a herniated disc is usually treated conservatively with analgesics and appropriate physiotherapy. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com)

Therapy of Post-Zoster Neuralgia

The treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia is sometimes associated with considerable difficulties. Again, as in the case of trigeminal neuralgia, antiepileptic drugs are used. Likewise, certain antidepressants, which are also effective in pain, are part of the treatment regimen. They are also given in combination with neuroleptics. For external use are acetylsalicylic acid and capsaicin into consideration. Therapeutic local anesthesia is discussed differently in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia.

Treatment of Lyme-related neuralgia

If neuralgia occurs in the context of Lyme disease, the antiepileptic drugs already mentioned in the other forms of neuralgia are also used. Another treatment option is a permanent catheter in the form of a thin tube, over a period of ten to fourteen days, a local anesthetic is delivered directly to the nerve.

Naturopathic treatment

Of course, the treatment of neuralgia belongs in the hands of an experienced doctor. However, this can be fully supported by the use of naturopathic procedures and the healing prospects can be improved.

baunscheidtism

Baunscheidt therapy is a frequently used method. As part of the treatment, the skin is slightly scratched in the area of ​​the affected area. By subsequently applied Baunscheidtieröl the skin is better supplied with blood and set the defense in motion.

Quaddeltherapie

The wheal with selected anthroposophic infection solutions brings relief. Since nerves depend on the supply of B vitamins, the injection of a vitamin B complex has proven itself. But even oral application is a way to do something good for the over-excited nerves.

St. John's wort in the form of capsules or as an oil has been proven to naturopathic treatment of nerve pain. (Image: photocrew / fotolia.com)

Homeopathy in neuralgia

St. John's wort, applied both internally as a capsule and externally as an oil, can aid the healing process. Complex preparations or individual remedies from homeopathy are also used in neuralgia. For example:

• Cantharis, the Spanish fly: In burning pain.
• Cedron, a bitter alfalfa: For the treatment of neuralgia and headaches.
• Cyclamen, cyclamen: in depressive moods and trigeminal neuralgia.
• Verbascum, The Mullein: For nerve pain, trigeminal neuralgia, but also for ear or tooth pain and rheumatism.
• mezereum , the daphne with increase of pain by warmth of the bed and touch
• Hypericum, St. John's wort in nerve injuries

Schüßler salts

Schüßler salts can also be used against neuralgia or neuralgic pain. For example, Schüßler salt is more commonly used:

• No.2 (Calcium phosophoricum),
• No.3 (Ferrum phosphoricum),
• No.5 (potassium phosphoricum),
• No.7 (Magnesium Phosphoricum),
• No. 11 (Silicea).

Anti-stress therapies

In general, patients suffering from nerve pain are usually very sensitive and susceptible to stress. Meditations, yoga, autogenic training or other relaxation techniques can therefore contribute to the improvement.

cannabis

Since the legalization of cannabis for the medical treatment of pain patients, this new method is also available. Because cannabis reduces nerve pain, which offers a special use in the context of neuralgia treatment. (sw, vb; updated April 17, 2018)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)