From what it is to how to manage it, we’re taking a closer look at neuropathic pain…
It’s estimated that about 8% of people in the UK have chronic neuropathic (nerve) pain.* Living with nerve pain can be difficult at times, but what are the best ways to help ease it?
Here we take a look at what we mean by nerve pain, the common causes, the type of symptoms you might experience, as well as our top tips for helping to manage nerve pain.
What is nerve pain?
Nerve pain occurs due to problems with nerve signals. It’s either down to incorrect nerve signalling within the brain and spinal cord, or between the brain and the peripheral nerves (the network of nerves that lay outside of the brain and spinal cord). With neuropathic pain, the nerves end up being affected in such a way that they send pain messages to the brain.
Neuropathic pain is different to the more common type of pain we might experience with something like an injury or a burn.
What are the common symptoms of nerve pain?
Nerve pain has been described in a variety of different ways. It often feels like a burning, stabbing, shooting or aching pain, a tingling, tight, numb, prickling or itching sensation, or like an electric shock.
The pain might be constant or intermittent and it may be spontaneous or provoked. There are different types of pain you might experience when it comes to nerve pain, including:
- Allodynia – pain comes on or becomes worse by touch that wouldn’t normally cause pain, for example the pressure of pyjamas on your body
- Hyperalgesia – pain comes on by a stimulus that would usually only cause slight discomfort, for example a mild prod might cause intense pain
- Paraesthesia – painful feelings occur even when nothing is touching your body, for example painful pins and needles, electric shock-like symptoms or a burning sensation on the skin but nothing is there
The symptoms of nerve pain aren’t just related to the pain itself. Nerve pain can have a big impact on someone’s quality of life, for example it can impact someone’s mood, lead to anxiety and depression and also cause sleep issues.
What are the common causes of nerve pain?
Neuropathic pain isn’t caused by one single thing. Lots of conditions can affect nerves and nerve pain may be caused by these conditions. These include:
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Shingles
- Multiple sclerosis
- Diabetic neuropathy
- HIV
- Alcoholism
- Cancer
- COVID-19
Neuropathic pain is much more common in older people, especially those who are at greater risk of developing the above conditions.
Tips for managing nerve pain
Nerve pain is a complex condition that can be quite difficult to treat. In some cases, it’s not possible to completely cure the underlying disease or reverse the neurological changes that have happened in the body.
But, there are some things that may help to manage or reduce the pain.
Treating the underlying cause
As we’ve mentioned, nerve pain can often be caused by a specific underlying condition, so treating the nerve pain will include treating the underlying cause if this is possible.
For example, if diabetes is causing your nerve pain, then getting your diabetes under control may help to ease the discomfort.
Pain relief medication
Traditional pain relief medication, like ibuprofen and paracetamol, and over-the-counter pain medications don’t tend to help very much with nerve pain, though you might like to consider trying these in the first instance.
Your GP may also be able to prescribe you some medication to help treat this type of pain.
Physical treatments
Some physical treatments might also help ease your nerve pain. These include:
- Physiotherapy
- Acupuncture
- TENS machines**
Make sure to speak with your GP before undertaking any of these kinds of treatments, it might be that they refer you to a pain specialist for further advice and support.
Psychological treatments
Pain can sometimes be made worse by stress, anxiety and depression. Feelings of pain can also vary depending on how we react to it, so learning to adjust your mindset might help a little.
Psychological treatments for pain include talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, and treatment for anxiety and depression.
Stress management may also help, and while everyone will have different ways to destress, you could try relaxation practices such as meditation, yoga or journaling, speaking to a loved one or indulging in a self-care evening.
Lifestyle changes
There are also several lifestyle changes you could make to help manage your pain. However, as we’ve mentioned, nerve pain is complex and can be intense, so what might work for more general pain, might not work quite so well for nerve pain.
Some of these lifestyle changes include:
- Stress management – practising relaxation techniques may help to reduce persistent pain
- Sleep hygiene – try to adopt good sleep habits like going to bed at a good time and sticking to a normal sleep routine
- Gentle exercise – simple activity may help to ease some of the pain by blocking pain signals to the brain, but you should speak to your GP if you’re new to exercise or you haven’t exercised in a while
- Self-management course – there are various free NHS-based training programmes for people who live with chronic conditions, such as diabetes
- Chat with people who are going through a similar thing – it might help to talk to someone else who understands what you’re going through, for example Pain Concern has a telephone helpline staffed by people with long-term pain
When to seek professional help
Whatever you do, don’t struggle alone. If you’re in pain or are worried about persistent pain, make sure to go and see your GP. They can provide advice and support, run tests for any underlying conditions and may refer you to a pain specialist or pain clinic if necessary.
Frequently asked questions
Do damaged nerves heal?
While it can be tricky to determine the underlying cause of nerve damage, once this has been identified and treated (if possible), the nerves may eventually be able to heal. However, in other cases, the damage may be permanent or could gradually get worse with time.
What does nerve pain feel like?
Nerve pain often feels like a burning, stabbing, shooting or aching pain, or like an electric shock. It may also feel like a tingling, tight, numb, prickling or itching sensation.
Does stress cause nerve pain?
Stress doesn’t necessarily cause nerve pain, but stress, anxiety and depression can all make your pain worse. Our perception of pain can also vary depending on how we react to our pain and circumstances.
What drink is good for nerve pain?
There’s no specific drink to help with nerve pain. There are claims about certain drinks being helpful for nerve pain, but the evidence to support this is limited. If you’re struggling with pain, go and see your GP for advice and potential treatment.
How do I treat nerve pain in my foot?
Nerve pain can be felt all over the body, but peripheral neuropathy in particular usually affects your extremities, so things like your hands, arms and feet.
Treating nerve pain in the foot is the same as with any type of nerve pain. In the first instance your healthcare professional will attempt to find and treat the underlying cause. You may also be able to manage your pain with certain pain relief medication, physiological and psychological treatments and by making healthy lifestyle changes.
If you do have pain, tingling or loss of sensation in your feet, a loss of balance or weakness, or a cut or ulcer on your foot that’s not getting better, make sure to go and see your GP. If you have diabetes, it’s important that you go for regular check-ups with your doctor.
