Neuralgia - Symptoms - Better Medicine

What are the symptoms of neuralgia?

Symptoms of neuralgia include burning, stabbing, pins-and-needles sensations, and electric shock-like sensations, but they can also include numbness or lack of feeling in the affected area. The pain may be so severe that touching or brushing alongside the area can produce discomfort.

Common symptoms of neuralgia

The symptoms of neuralgia are diverse and can include the following:

Burning feeling
Lack of perspiration
Muscle weakness
Numbness
Pain from an origin that does not usually cause pain
Pain that follows the course of a specific nerve
Paralysis or the inability to move a body part
Pins-and-needles (prickling) sensation
Sensitivity
Tingling

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, neuralgia may be associated with a malfunction in the autonomic nervous system (a part of the peripheral nervous system) that may be life threatening and should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
Difficulty swallowing
Dizziness or vertigo
Garbled or slurred speech or inability to speak
Loss of muscle coordination
Respiratory or breathing problems such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, labored breathing, wheezing, not breathing, or choking
Sudden paralysis or inability to move a body part

INTRODUCTION

What is neuralgia?

Your nervous system consists of two parts. The central nervous system, made up of the brain and spinal cord, acts as the central processing station for nerve signals. The peripheral nervous system transmits sensory information between the muscles, tissues and nerves in the rest of the body to the brain. Neuralgia, or nerve pain, is pain that is felt anywhere along the path of a nerve.... Read more about neuralgia introduction

CAUSES

What causes neuralgia?

The causes of neuralgia are as diverse as the nervous system itself. A common origin for neuralgia is the peripheral nervous system, which transmits sensory signals from the rest of the body to the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).... Read more about neuralgia causes

TREATMENTS

How is neuralgia treated?

Treatment for neuralgia begins with seeking medical care from your health care provider. The cause, duration and severity of your neuralgia will determine the appropriate treatment. The goals of therapy are to manage the pain and to treat the underlying condition, if possible. Therapies include medication, surgery, and injections of local anesthetics, as well as complementary treatments such as biofeedback, acupuncture and massage.... Read more about neuralgia treatments