Neuralgia Health Article

Definition

Neuralgia is pain that follows the path of a specific nerve.

Alternative Names

Nerve pain; Postherpetic neuralgia

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The causes of neuralgia vary. Chemical irritation, inflammation, trauma (including surgery), compression of nerves by nearby structures (for instance, tumors), and infections may all lead to neuralgia. In many cases, however, the cause is unknown.

Neuralgia is most common in elderly persons, but it may occur at any age.

Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common form of neuralgia. For information on this condition, see the article on trigeminal neuralgia.

A related but rather uncommon neuralgia affects the glossopharyngeal nerve, which provides sensation to the throat. Symptoms of this neuralgia are short, shock-like episodes of pain located in the throat.

Neuralgia may occur after infections such as shingles. Shingles-related neuralgia produces a constant burning pain after the shingles rash has healed. The pain is worsened by movement of or contact with the affected area.

Postherpetic neuralgia may be debilitating long after signs of the original herpes infection have disappeared. Other infectious diseases that may cause neuralgia are syphilis and Lyme disease.

Diabetes is another common cause of neuralgia. Diabetes damages the tiny arteries that supply circulation to the nerves, resulting in nerve fiber malfunction and sometimes nerve loss. Diabetes can produce almost any neuralgia nearly anywhere in the body, including trigeminal neuralgia.

Other medical conditions that may be associated with neuralgias include chronic renal insufficiency and porphyria -- a hereditary disease in which the body cannot rid itself of certain substances produced after the normal breakdown of blood in the body. Certain drugs may also cause neuralgia.

Symptoms

• Pain located anywhere, usually on or near the surface of the body
  • In the same location for each episode
  • Sharp, stabbing pain or constant, burning pain
• Pain along the path of a specific nerve
• Impaired function of affected body part due to pain, or muscle weakness due to motor nerve damage.
• Increased sensitivity of the skin or numbness of the affected skin area (feeling similar to a local anesthetic, such as a Novocaine shot)

Any touch or pressure is interpreted as pain. Movement may also be painful.