Neuralgia – types, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of neuralgia

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Neuralgia is a type of condition that can affect people of all ages. It usually manifests itself as burning, pressure or severe pain located at a selected point in the body. Neuralgia often occurs over short or long intervals. We check what types of neuralgia are, and how they can be treated.

Neuralgia – what are they?

Neuralgia is called neuralgia. It is characterized by very severe pain that occurs unexpectedly. This is because the brain receives stimuli sent from the inflamed area. The paroxysmal nature of neuralgia distinguishes it from other ailments and diseases.

Also check: Why should you be careful while taking painkillers?

Neuralgia – causes of occurrence

In neuralgia, the nerves send stimuli to the brain. This may be related to:

1. nerve damage caused by infection, mechanical damage (from surgery or trauma), or stress;
2. compression of the nerve by neoplastic changes or swollen tissues;
3. inflammatory lesions of the nerves (e.g. shingles);
4. nerve damage by toxins (e.g. carbon dioxide);
5. deficiency of B vitamins;
6. diseases such as diabetes, Lyme disease, lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis;
7. hypothyroidism;
8. discopathy or scoliosis;
9. neurodegenerative diseases, e.g. multiple sclerosis;
10. HIV infection. 

Taking certain medications can also cause neuralgia. This is the case with tuberculosis.

In case of severe neuralgia, an electric heating blanket may prove useful, as it significantly reduces pain. It is available on Medonet Market.

Neuralgia – types

The most common types of neuralgia include:

1. trigeminal neuralgia – the condition usually affects women over 35 years of age. Its most common cause is inflammation of the teeth and sinuses. Trigeminal neuralgia manifests as intense, burning pain;
2. herpes zoster neuralgia – neuralgia occurs where the shingles were located. Strong pressure may occur even several years after the ailments have healed;
3. intercostal neuralgia – pain occurs in the intercostal space. It can be stinging or appear as a “suffocation” on the chest;
4. glossopharyngeal neuralgia – stabbing pain can be felt around the ear, tongue root, back of the throat or below the lower jaw;
5. amyotrophic neuralgia (Parsonage-Turner syndrome) – severe pain is localized in the area of ​​the shoulder girdle and arm;
6. Arnold’s subolitic neuralgia – the pain is localized at the back of the head. In addition to pain, there may be photophobia and tinnitus.

Neuralgia – symptoms

The nerves are characterized by sudden severe pain. In addition to these characteristic symptoms, other symptoms may also appear:

1. numbness in the limbs;
2. muscle weakness leading to paresis;
3. tingling in extremities.

As for the duration or frequency of pain, it may be different for each patient. For some people there may be asymptomatic periods in between pain attacks, while for others the pain may be much longer and worsen over time.

It should also be mentioned that in cases of neuralgia, one can speak of the so-called trigger pointsi.e. areas where irritation, e.g. by pressure or temperature, causes pain.

Neuralgia – treatment

Regularly recurring neuralgia should be the reason for contact with an internist as soon as possible, who will select the appropriate type of treatment for the type of neuralgia. The doctor may apply drug therapy (painkillers, e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, e.g. prefaxine or depratal and anti-epileptics, e.g. pregabalin or carbamazepine), as well as rehabilitation, a series of massages. In pharmacological treatment, opioids are sometimes also used, e.g. accordeon, doltard.

Do you suffer from neuralgia? Prophylactically and therapeutically try Chamomile flower in the form of tea. It is also worth applying heat therapy, e.g. by regularly using the Vitammy Thermo 1x Electric Blanket and the VITAMMY Heat Electric Heating Pad.

Sometimes these are also used surgical procedures such as: thermocoagulation, which consists in the deliberate destruction of a nerve fragment causing pain by using an increased temperature; glycerolysis, i.e. injection of glycerol into the nerve causing pain; balloon microcompression, which consists in inserting a special device into the Gasser coil with a balloon ending, which, when inflated, damages the nerve; Radiosurgery with a gamma knife, when a fragment of the nerve causing pain is destroyed by the action of rays emitted by the device, the so-called “Gamma-knife”.

Acupuncture is also helpful. In cases of neuralgia, a proper diet is also very important, which should include foods rich in vitamin B (especially B6 and B12). They ensure faster nerve regeneration and eliminate microdamages. People with neuralgia should focus on whole grain products (such as, for example, oatmeal, groats, wholemeal bread), green leafy vegetables, legumes, liver, nuts, fish, eggs and dairy products.

In the case of neuralgia, it can also be treated by using it in your diet herbs with analgesic properties (e.g. elderberry, willow bark or chamomile) and products such as garlic, onion, turmeric and honey. Try Relaxing Green Tea, which you can find at Medonet Market. You can also use mint for neuralgia. The packaging of Mint – freeze-dried organic tea contains 10 sachets of herbs ready to be brewed.

It is also worth remembering to avoid products that promote inflammation in the body (sugar and highly processed products).

In pharmacological treatment, agents such as Neurovit or Neurovit Fast are used as supportive.

Neuralgia – diagnosis

In the case of neuralgia, it is very important that the specialist doctor takes into account all the diseases the patient suffers from and analyzes his health history, thanks to which it will be possible to determine the cause of the problem.

Differential diagnosis, which consists in excluding other causes of pain in the patient, also plays an important role here. The physician must verify the soreness of the annoying nerve as well as assess the presence of appropriate trigger points. It should be added that time is key in the diagnosis of neuralgia, because pain may be caused by processes in the body that are very dangerous for the body.

Neuralgia – frequency of occurrence

It is not clear how many people suffer from neuralgia, but it is considered a rare condition (around 10 people out of 100 in the UK get it each year). Neuralgia affects more women than men and usually starts between the ages of 000 and 50. It is rare in adults under 60 years of age.

Neuralgia – beginnings

The earliest example cited for the term neuralgia is the French “névralgie”, which, according to Rowland Richard, an English specialist, was coined by François Chaussier, a French scholar, in his 1801 work “Synoptique de la Névralgie”, for “… feelings of one or more nerves that cause pain that is usually intermittent but often intense. ‘ Features and assumed etiology in the medical literature underwent significant changes over time.

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