Neuralgia

Description

Introduction

Neuralgia is a sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve and is due to irritation or damage to the nerve.

Causes

Causes of neuralgia include:

Chemical irritation

Chronic renal insufficiency

Diabetes

Infections, such as herpes zoster ( shingles), HIV, Lyme disease, and syphilis

Medications such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, or vincristine

Porphyria.

Pressure on nerves by nearby bones, ligaments, blood vessels, or tumour’s.

Trauma (including surgery)

In many cases, the cause is unknown.

Symptoms:

Symptoms may include any of the following:

Increased sensitivity of the skin along the path of the damaged nerve, so that any touch or pressure is felt as pain.

Pain along the path of the nerve that is sharp or stabbing, in the same location each episode, comes and goes (intermittent) or is constant and burning, and may get worse when the area is moved.

Weakness or complete paralysis of muscles supplied by the same nerve.