What causes nerve pain?
Nerve pain is typically the result of an underlying disease, but you can also develop chronic nerve pain due to an injury anywhere in your body.
Because of an injury or disease, you may experience episodes of severe pain that flare up on occasion. You may also experience constant pain that interferes with your quality of life.
Some of the most common causes of chronic nerve pain include:
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Infection
- Fibromyalgia
- Herniated discs
- Multiple sclerosis
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the Coastal Pain Medicine team if you experience persistent sharp, burning, or stabbing pain anywhere in your body. You should also request an appointment if you frequently have numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in your arms or legs.
How is nerve pain diagnosed?
To understand the root cause of your nerve pain, Dr. Brennan and the Coastal Pain Medicine team take time to review your personal and family medical history. They physically examine the area where you feel the pain to identify signs of swelling and other abnormalities.
Imaging tests, like X-rays or a computed tomography (CT) scan, can confirm a herniated disc or arthritis that’s putting pressure on your nerves.
Nerve function tests, like electromyography (EMG), evaluate the nerve activity in your muscles to identify underlying nerve damage.
Once he confirms the origin of your nerve pain, Dr. Brennan customizes a treatment plan using alternative therapies and minimally invasive treatments.
How is nerve pain treated?
Because your pain management needs are unique, Dr. Brennan and the Coastal Pain Medicine team tailor a therapy program just for you. You may benefit from treatments like radiofrequency (RF) lesioning to prevent nerve signals from traveling to your brain.
Other options for relieving chronic nerve pain include:
- Acupuncture
- Epidural steroid injections
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Stem cell therapy
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
The goals of your treatment plan are to reduce the frequency and severity of your pain and help your nerves to heal fully. If you have diabetes or an infection, you may also need to take additional medications to treat the underlying cause of nerve damage to prevent your condition from worsening.
You don’t have to live with chronic nerve pain. Find out how interventional pain management services can improve your quality of life by calling Coastal Pain Medicine or by requesting an appointment online today.
