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As the Twin Cities’ leading chronic pain management center, iSpine Pain Physicians encounters a variety of pain disorders. One such disorder is neuralgia. Thanks to its rarity, neuralgia remains largely misunderstood. Fortunately, the iSpine team is here to clear up any confusion. 

A Quick Guide to Neuralgia

What Is Neuralgia?

Simply put, neuralgia refers to the stabbing, often severe pain caused by an irritated or damaged nerve. This nerve can be anywhere on the body, although it most often occurs in the head, throat or face.

chronic pain managementThere are three broad types: postherpetic, trigeminal, and glossopharyngeal. Postherpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles and occurs wherever the viral outbreak was on the body, though it is typically isolated to one side. It ranges from mild to severe severity and can last for months or years. Trigeminal neuralgia, on the other hand, is associated with damage to the trigeminal nerve, which travels from the brain to other parts of the face. Like postherpetic, this type of neuralgia is also limited to one side of the body. Lastly, glossopharyngeal neuralgia is associated with damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve in the throat. It is the rarest of the three types.

What Causes It?

Like with back pain, nerve pain is often difficult to diagnose. It has a variety of etiologies and contributing factors that make its source hard to identify. But, according to iSpine’s chronic pain management specialists, there are four widely accepted causes:

  • Infection: Viral infections – like shingles, as mentioned above – can irritate and damage nearby nerves, causing neuralgia.
  • Diabetes: Excess blood glucose can damage nerves, especially those in the hands, arms, feet and legs. Thus, those with diabetes are more likely to have neuralgia.  
  • Compression: Neuralgia is also caused by the compression of nerves. This pressure may come from an errant bone, swollen blood vessel, inflamed ligament or even a tumor.
  • Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is the deterioration of myelin or the fatty substance covering nerves. Trigeminal neuralgia may occur in patients with MS.  

How Is It Treated?

Neuralgia is often severe and debilitating. If you have it, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor will start by pinpointing and treating the exact cause of your discomfort. If they cannot identify a source, they will instead focus on chronic pain relief and management. Treatment for neuralgia ranges from surgery and physical therapy to nerve block injections and prescription medication.

For neuralgia treatment in the Twin Cities, look no further than iSpine Pain Physicians. This highly qualified team is here to help you manage your symptoms and lead a happy, healthy, pain-free life. Call them at (763) 201-8191 to schedule an appointment or visit the chronic pain management center online for more information.

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