Symptoms of neuralgia

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Neuralgia comes in many types and is generally quite severe. Patients may experience episodes of intense, short-lasting pain. The common symptoms include: Firstly, a classic type is trigeminal neuralgia, where patients primarily suffer from episodic severe pain in the areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve. This can feel like burning or electric shocks, and is often unbearable. Treatment usually requires antiepileptic drugs. The second major type of neuralgia commonly seen is postherpetic neuralgia, where pain is intense and follows the nerve distribution. Tricyclic antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs can be used for treatment. Additionally, peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes can also lead to neuralgia. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Causes of Neuralgia

Neuralgia is extremely painful, with patients often experiencing severe, unbearable pain. The causes of neuralgia mainly include the following types. The first type to note is viral infection, such as herpes zoster virus infection, which can leave postherpetic neuralgia. In such cases, it is crucial to actively use antivirals and employ neuropathic pain medications for treatment. The second scenario may relate to nerve compression, such as trigeminal neuralgia, which may be associated with local vascular compression causing abnormal nerve discharges. Surgical treatment might be necessary to relieve the compression. Sciatica is also caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. The third case might be due to nonspecific inflammatory responses. For example, Guillain-Barre syndrome can also cause neuralgia, and treatment should be directed at the underlying cause.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What to do with tooth nerve pain?

Common symptoms of dental nerve pain include severe toothache. If teeth are not brushed and rinsed promptly after eating, food residues linger on the teeth, and bacterial fermentation produces acids, leading to symptoms of dental nerve inflammation. This is also due to the further progression of dental caries. In such cases, dental treatment should be sought as early as possible. If the decayed dental tissues are removed and the dental nerve is not exposed, direct filling treatment can be conducted. If infected dental tissues are removed and the dental nerve is exposed, the treatment depends on the development status of the tooth root. If the tooth root is not fully formed, it is advisable to preserve the living dental nerve as much as possible, and direct pulp capping or vital pulpotomy can be performed. If the root apex foramen has already formed, infected purulent dental tissues or the dental nerve can be removed for root canal treatment.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Is intercostal neuralgia severe?

First, it should be noted that intercostal neuralgia is not a very serious disease; it is a chronic condition but can be recovered from with long-term treatment as long as treatment is consistently followed. Commonly, treatment for intercostal neuralgia can be supplemented with physiotherapy methods such as acupuncture, massage, and cupping, which are very effective. Additionally, topical application of ointments that invigorate the blood and dispel stasis, or oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and neuro-nourishing medications, can be completely adequate. For cases where the symptoms of intercostal neuralgia are particularly severe, local block injections may be performed. Furthermore, it is important to rest and protect the affected area, avoid cold exposure, and minimize irritation to the area to facilitate recovery.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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How to relieve neuralgia

Neuropathic pain can be relieved through treatments such as medication, physical therapy, and surgery. Medications used primarily include antiepileptic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin, sodium diclofenac, ibuprofen, and celecoxib. Physical therapy mainly involves localized heat application, massage, manipulation, and acupuncture. Surgical treatment is mainly suitable for patients who do not respond well to medication and physical therapy. Currently, the surgical approach mainly involves minimally invasive surgery to relieve nerve compression, thereby alleviating the symptoms of neuropathic pain. Beyond symptomatic treatment, it is important to identify and treat the underlying cause of the neuropathic pain, such as tumors, trauma, diabetes, etc. These causes can lead to neuropathic symptoms, so it is crucial to actively control these underlying diseases to potentially relieve neuropathic pain at its root. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How long does an intercostal neuralgia attack last?

Under normal circumstances, an episode of intercostal neuralgia usually requires about a week to improve. During this period, actively cooperating with treatment can lead to a quick recovery. Treatment typically involves orally administered non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and nerve-nourishing drugs, and it is necessary to reduce physical activity and minimize local irritation. It is crucial not to be exposed to the cold; local heat application is recommended. Commonly, a salt bag or toasted bran is used for heat application, which is quite sufficient. Applying heat twice a day, each time for more than half an hour, can enhance the effects significantly. Moreover, combining this with some physiotherapy methods, such as acupuncture, infrared therapy, and cupping, can yield very good results.