Neuropathic Pain

Pain Management Content Related to Neuropathic Pain.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

is a common cause of chronic pain.  Causes of peripheral nerve damage include diabetes, autoimmune disorders, nutritional deficiencies, alcohol abuse, inherited diseases, and toxic drug exposure.  Approximately 15% of diabetics experience some form of .

Initially, patients develop numbness and/or weakness in the hands or feet.  Early on, this involves the fingers and toes, but can work its way up the limbs.  Patients experience burning pain in the extremities - most commonly involving the feet.

Treatment is centered on the underlying disease.  Pain therapy involves medication management centered on  medications. In some cases,  can be an effective long-term therapy.

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Neuropathic Pain Medications

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

The treatment of can be very difficult.  It is often necessary to conduct trials of multiple medications before finding the best regimen.  It is important to be patient as effective medications for one individual may be different than others.   These medications include:

Anti-epileptic (anti-seizure) medication - gabapentin, pregabalin, carbamazapine, etc.

Antidepressant medication  - tricyclics (e.g. amitriptyline), SSRIs (e.g. duloxetine)

Topicals - Local anesthetic preparations (creams, gels, patches), other compounded creams

Opiates

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Pain Treatment Methods

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

All therapy for chronic pain should be tailored to the individual patient.  This may or may not include medication management, physical therapy, injection therapy, surgery, implantable devices for pain, and psychological therapy.

Medication Management - anti-inflammatories, medication, muscle relaxants, opiates

Physical Therapy

Injection Therapy

Surgery

Implantable Devices - ,

Psychological therapy - Biofeedback, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, treatment of depression and anxiety

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Origins of Chronic Pain

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

Pain of Spinal Origin:

Causes of include lumbar degenerative disc disease, , lumbar radiculopathy, discogenic pain, , arthropathy / dysfunction, and myofascial pain.

Causes of chronic neck pain include cervical degenerative disc disease, , cervical radiculopathy, discogenic pain, , occipital neuralgia, and myofascial pain.

(nerve - generated pain)

(RSD) a.k.a. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Lumbar, Thoracic, or Cervical Radiculopathy

Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (Shingles Pain)

Occipital Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Post-Stroke Pain (Central Pain)

Multiple Sclerosis

(e.g. Diabetic)

Mononeuropathies (after damage to a single nerve)

Arthritis Pain (Joint Pain)

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Cancer Pain

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