Common Types of Neuropathic Pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: Caused by nerve compression in the wrists and causes pain in the wrist, thumb and fingers.
- Central pain syndrome can happen as a result of damage in nervous system, like a stroke. It may also be caused by neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis. The type of pain is based on the level of nervous system damage.
- Degenerative disk disease: You may have neuropathic back pain if the condition damages the nerves exiting or entering the spine.
- Diabetic neuropathy causes burning or stabbing pain in the hands and feet of some people who suffer from diabetes.
- Phantom limb pain can occur in some people after a limb is amputated. This pain feels as if it is coming from part of the limb that is no longer there.
- Postherpetic neuralgia (shingles): This neuropathic pain is brought on by an outbreak of shingles and persists after the condition has cleared.
- Pudendal neuralgia is a type of pelvic pain caused by compression of the pudendal nerve. It causes burning pain in the pelvis and groin.
- Sciatica: Caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve and often results in shooting pain that radiates down the back of the leg.
- Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by shooting neck and facial pain. The pain is often worse with touch and may make activities, like shaving, very painful.
Cancer, kidney disorders, Guillain-Barre syndrome, multiple sclerosis, HIV and alcoholism are some the diseases that can cause neuropathic pain.
Nerve damage like post-mastectomy pain (PMPS), spinal cord injury, other kinds of post-surgical pain, postoperative hernia repair pain may cause neuropathic pain.
Neuropathic pain symptoms may include:
- Shooting and burning pain
- Tingling and numbness