What is Neuropathic Pain?
Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain. It is a result of damage to the nervous system that can occur because of infection, disease, injury, or certain medications. Neuropathic pain does not protect or warn you. Instead, the nervous system breaks down and becomes the cause of the pain. Neuropathic pain can continue for months or years and is often described as "burning," "electric," "tingling," or "shooting."
What is postherpetic neuralgia?
Decades after a person has had chickenpox, the virus that causes chickenpox can become active again, resulting in shingles (also called herpes zoster). Shingles often appears as a one-sided belt-shaped rash, but may also occur on the face, scalp and even the arms or legs. It is often very painful. When the pain continues after the shingles rash has healed, the pain is referred to as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The pain from PHN can be severe and the area of skin affected by PHN may become very sensitive so that even the feeling of clothing can be painful. The pain of PHN can last for months or years after the rash has healed, or it may never fully go away.
What is painful HIV-associated neuropathy?
People infected with HIV may develop neuropathic pain due to nerve injury that can occur directly as a result of the HIV virus, the body’s reaction to the virus or because of the medications used to treat HIV. Symptoms of painful HIV-associated neuropathy often begin in the feet and can be severe so that in some people walking or even putting on socks and shoes can be very painful.
What is painful diabetic neuropathy?
There are many types of diabetic neuropathies (nerve disorders caused by diabetes). Peripheral diabetic neuropathy causes pain, weakness, and reduced or lost sensation in the feet. Some people may develop tingling, burning, or numbness; others may experience sharp pains, cramps, and extreme sensitivity to touch. Other types of diabetic neuropathy affect other parts of the nervous system and may affect digestion, balance, vision, and many other bodily functions.
Other Types of Neuropathic Pain
Many medical conditions are associated with neuropathic pain, including traumatic nerve injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, syringomyelia, epilepsy, spinal cord injury and cancer.
