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Chronic nerve pain is something a lot of people suffer from every day, and research suggests it might be one of the most common chronic health issues in the world. And if you have chronic nerve pain, you want to find out how to relieve it.
Luckily there are treatments that can help control or even eliminate the pain. As with many health issues, the treatments available today can help reduce chronic pain as well as help your body's natural healing process.
This article will help you understand what chronic nerve pain is and when you should visit a pain management NYC specialist. Also, give you information about treatments you may use to relieve your chronic nerve pain.
What is Chronic Nerve Pain?
Pain signals travel along nerves from your body's tissues to your brain. This is how you feel pain. When you have chronic nerve pain, these signals get mixed up and confused, which means they don't make sense anymore. They can also get stronger than they should be. This makes them more painful and hard to treat, even though there isn't anything wrong with your tissues or bones — only with your nerves.
Chronic nerve pain can be described as a type of neuropathic pain or a "pain in the nerves." Those affected by chronic nerve pain experience pain despite there being no changes to the structure of underlying tissue. In the United States, chronic nerve pain affects 100 million Americans, and it often comes with debilitating cramps and sensations due to swelling in the nerves.
Chronic nerve pain is experienced over a long period of time. The most common symptoms are numbness, burning, stabbing, and sharp pain. Chronic nerve pain afflicts many areas of the body, including hands, arms, legs, back, teeth, and face.
The severity of chronic nerve pain varies from person to person, depending on their health condition and how long they've had it. Some people experience mild discomfort, while others may find living with chronic nerve pain difficult or impossible.
What Causes Chronic Nerve Pain?
Chronic nerve pain is also known as neuropathic pain because it's caused by damage to or dysfunction of the nervous system. The nervous system includes your brain and spinal cord, nerves, and all the muscles, bones, and organs in your body.
The first thing to understand about chronic nerve pain is that it is a complex condition with many different possible causes. This makes it very difficult to diagnose and treat. In addition, there are many different types of chronic nerve pain, so it is important for each person to be assessed individually by medical professionals who are experienced in managing this condition.
Some of the factors include:
Injury or trauma to the nerve
Neuropathy (nerve damage)
Disorders of the nervous system that affect how your brain communicates with your nerves
Nerve damage from diabetes or compression by a blood vessel (neurological compression).
Infection in the body, such as HIV/AIDS.
How to Find Relief from Chronic Nerve Pain?
Chronic nerve pain is a real challenge for many people. It can be extremely debilitating and even prevent you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Chronic nerve pain comes in many forms, but it's typically associated with issues like pinched nerves, disc herniations, or other spinal problems.
If your pain is so severe that it's keeping you from being able to function at home or work, it's time to see a pain doctor who specializes in treating this type of problem. The pain doctor can offer treatment options that can make a big difference in how much pain you're feeling and how well you're able to function throughout the day.
If the following are true, then it's time to see a doctor:
The pain isn't getting better with self-care
Aches and pains that don't go away with rest or over-the-counter medication (such as ibuprofen)
Changes in sensation like numbness or tingling
Weakness in an arm or leg that lasts more than 24 hours after an injury
You have other signs or symptoms, such as fever, chills, or weight loss.
Your pain is severe and limits your ability to do daily activities and enjoy life.
You're worried about the cause of your pain or are having trouble distinguishing between harmless and serious problems
There are countless chronic nerve pain treatments, yet none of them are perfect. This makes finding relief a process of trial and error. What works for one person may not work for another. In addition, depending on the cause of your nerve pain, these treatments may work better on some days than others.
The good news is that most people find relief within a few weeks. But the bad news is that some people suffer for years, even decades. The length of time nerve pain lasts on many factors:
Your age: Younger people may recover more quickly than older adults. In fact, some experts believe that nerve pain is one of the signs of aging.
The cause: Nerve damage from an injury or disease tends to get worse over time. If you have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or lupus, your recovery may take longer. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly what caused your nerve pain because many different things can lead to it (for example, back surgery).
Your overall health: If you're in poor health overall, your recovery will be slower than if you are in good health. This is especially true if you have other conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure or cholesterol).
What are the Treatments for Chronic Nerve Pain?
It's important to understand that chronic nerve pain can't be cured completely, but it can be managed effectively so that patients can lead normal lives without having constant pain interfering with their daily activities. You don't have to suffer from chronic nerve pain-diffuse, aching pain that makes it difficult to sleep or concentrate. In time, you may discover that one of these treatment options is the right choice for you.
The main goal of treatment for chronic nerve pain is to reduce its severity and improve your quality of life. The best action is to see a pain doctor or specialist and discuss the best course of treatment that works for your specific need. A combination of treatments may be used to treat nerve-related conditions.
There are treatments for chronic nerve pain without surgery or narcotics. Many of these treatments have been shown to be effective in clinical trials. Unfortunately, no single treatment for chronic nerve pain works for everyone. The best treatment for you will depend on the type of pain you have and its severity. The following are some of the treatments to manage chronic nerve pain:
Nerve block injections
A nerve block injection involves injecting a local anesthetic into the affected area of your body to numb the nerves that carry pain signals to your brain. Nerve blocks can also be used in combination with other treatment options or as part of an evaluation process.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy can ease chronic nerve pain by stretching tight muscles and increasing blood flow to the area that's causing pain. Physical therapists may use stretching and strengthening exercises to help keep your muscles healthy and flexible. They also teach you how to do simple movements that put less stress on your joints and muscles. These exercises can help decrease pain and prevent muscle spasms or stiffness. Some physical therapists also use heat therapy or cold packs to relieve pain in certain situations.
Medical massage
Medical massage is a type of therapy that uses various techniques to increase blood flow and stimulate soft tissue growth around injured areas of soft tissue like muscles and ligaments.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body in order to stimulate blood flow and release natural chemicals called endorphins that can alleviate pain signals sent from the brain to other parts of the body. This procedure has been shown to be effective at relieving chronic nerve pain in some cases.
Don't Let Chronic Nerve Pain Rule Your Life!
Nerve pain is a lifelong issue, but by finding a tailored treatment plan, it is possible to get relief. Understanding the different types of pain will help you find treatment for chronic nerve pain.
Seek medical attention for your symptoms from a pain management NYC specialist and determine what type of treatment you need. With appropriate treatment, chronic nerve pain does not have to rule your life!