Some of the Most Common Causes of Nerve Pain

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Nerve pain is one of the worst kinds of physical pain. It’s difficult to treat and give patients the relief they need. When someone has nerve pain it’s important to figure out the underlying cause so that doctors can come up with the best treatment plans possible. This allows them to determine if surgery or medications or a combination of both can be used. Here are some of the most common causes of nerve pain in adults.

Shingles

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It caused a bumpy rash and pain along the nerve ending throughout the body. People are at risk of shingles if they’ve had a chickenpox infection in their childhood. The virus stays in the body and when the immune system is compromised or a person is experiencing stress in their life, the virus can flare up and cause shingles. While for most people, this will not be a fatal infection, it can be extremely painful. Doctors may prescribe antivirals or medications like gabapentin to help give some relief until the virus dissipates on its own. You can often find a gabapentin coupon or other medical discounts for doctor prescribed medicines online.

Traumatic Injury

Car crashes, motorcycle crashes, and even major falls can lead to nerve pain. When the inflammation from the body healing or broken bones and damaged tissues impact the nerves, the pain can be overwhelming. Many medical professionals use a variety of meds to keep their patients as comfortable as possible while they heal from a traumatic injury.

Brain Damage

When your brain isn’t functioning properly, it can send out signals that cause nerve pain. While your hands may not actually be injured, for instance, brain damage can make you feel like they are hurt. In some cases, doctors will have you work with a mental health specialist as well. They want to ensure you have the support you need for your mental health, while your brain heals, and you receive treatment for that injury. Strokes can cause brain damage that leads to nerve pain throughout the body as well.

Degenerative Disc Disease

There is evidence that some forms of degenerative disc problems are caused by autoimmune diseases. This research is in its early stages but could have important implications for treating and stopping the progression of the disease. What happens in this disease is that the cartilage discs that provide cushioning between the vertebrae in the spine start to bulge.

This can put pressure on the nerves that run through the back. Once the bulging and pressure become too much, some of these discs can cause protrusions that lead to even more pain. Doctors often go in to remove either part of the disc or all of it. The problem with simply removing it is that the spinal column collapses in that area. The best treatment for that problem is to either put in a prosthetic disc or to fuse the spine in that spot.

Amputation

Have you ever heard of phantom pain in amputees? It is a real condition where people who have had a limb removed experience nerve pain in a spot that is no longer there. Their brain still processes that there are nerve endings in feet and hands for instance. And it’s trying to send out a signal to those non-existent places. This leads to pain that can be excruciating. Amputees often struggle with nerve pain that is difficult to medicate.

Toxins in the Body

Did you know that toxic substances can get trapped in the brain and along your nerves? These toxins come from the environment, foods you eat, chemicals in the soil, living in urban areas, and even from medications and shots. While most people can effectively detox these substances pretty quickly, others struggle to remove them. When these toxins land in the nervous system, it can lead to nerve pain. One of the ways that doctors help their patients who may have higher levels of toxins in their bodies is to have them do a detox.

Some people might even need chelation treatments to rid the body of all the toxins. It’s important to have complete testing done if you have nerve pain, but none of these other instances apply to you. Sometimes just a simple hair sample is enough to test for the presence of heavy metals and other neurological toxins. Toxins can cause many problems including difficulty losing weight, lower brain function, and low libido.