Nerve pain can be a symptom of many different conditions, including cancer, HIV, diabetes, and shingles. For some, nerve pain is frustrating; for others, it’s devastating and life-changing. Whether it feels like burning, pinpricks, or sudden shocks of electricity, nerve pain can disrupt your life at home and at work.
Countless nerves in the body convey sensations to the brain, including pain. While we might not like pain much, it does have an important function: it prevents injury. When your foot begins to step on a nail, it’s the pain sensation that alerts your brain to the danger. That’s how it’s supposed to work, at least.
But in people with nerve pain, that messaging system isn’t working correctly. Your brain receives a pain signal, and you feel the pain, but there’s no obvious cause. Now, it’s just pain without a purpose — and because of this, there’s no immediate way to relieve it.
Nerve damage can occur due to various reasons such as physical injury, disease, repetitive stress, vitamin deficiencies, hormone imbalances, heart disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Lyme disease, alcoholism, thyroid problems, B12 deficiency, multiple myeloma, and amyloidosis.
Symptoms of nerve damage can vary from person to person. Sometimes, the nerves become hypersensitive. Something that normally feels painless — a breeze on your arm, the sensation of a bed sheet on your body — becomes painful. Damage to the sensory nerves doesn’t only cause pain; it can also result in numbness, tingling, and weakness.
In extreme cases, nerve damage can cause paralysis and affect things like digestion and breathing. The severity of nerve pain is usually linked to the severity of the underlying disease. So, in general, nerve pain tends to be worse as people get older.
If you think you might have nerve pain, you need to see your doctor now. Sometimes, the cause might be fairly clear, especially if you have already been diagnosed with a condition known to cause nerve pain, like HIV, cancer, or diabetes. But in other cases, the cause of nerve pain can be hard to sort out.
Your doctor might need to run a number of lab tests and perform a thorough neurological exam to determine the cause of your nerve pain. You may also need to undergo additional tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, nerve conduction studies, and electromyographies.
In some cases, a doctor will recommend a biopsy of the skin or a nerve to examine the nerve endings. When nerve pain is caused by a condition like diabetes, HIV, or cancer, getting treatment for the underlying disease is obviously the priority.
But treatments for the underlying disease might not necessarily help with your pain. Nerve pain may need its own treatment, separate from treatment for the disease that’s causing it. The most effective and suitable treatment for nerve pain varies depending on the specifics — such as the patient’s health, the underlying cause, the risks of potential side effects, and the costs.
Therefore, if you’re struggling with nerve pain caused by diabetes, cancer, HIV, or another condition, talk to your doctor about treating your nerve pain directly or indirectly. Don’t assume that it will go away on its own; don’t assume that following the treatment for the underlying disease will resolve it.
Instead, explore all available options and work closely with your healthcare team to find relief from this debilitating condition. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can manage your nerve pain and improve your quality of life.
If you’re living with nerve pain and looking for ways to cope or seek additional information, consider the following resources:
* National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke: [www.ninds.nih.gov](http://www.ninds.nih.gov)
* American Pain Society: [www.painsociety.org](http://www.painsociety.org)
* Nerve pain support groups online
Note that while this post provides general information on nerve pain, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment.
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