How to relieve neuralgia

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 16, 2024
00:00
00:00

Firstly, symptomatic treatment can be administered to patients. Medications for treating neuralgia mainly include tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors may also be effective. These medications should be taken under the advice of a doctor when necessary to help alleviate pain.

Secondly, localized block treatment can also achieve certain clinical effects.

Thirdly, it is crucial to identify the cause of the neuralgia and treat it accordingly. For example, if a patient’s neuralgia is caused by optic neuromyelitis, corticosteroids should be used; if it is due to herpes zoster virus infection, antiviral medications are required.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
1min 1sec home-news-image

How to treat occipital neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia is caused by cervical compression of the greater occipital nerve, leading to neuropathic pain. Thus, treatment of occipital neuralgia may involve oral pain relief medications to temporarily alleviate symptoms. Additionally, some nerve-nourishing medications can be used in treatment. Fundamental treatment involves addressing cervical spondylosis, which can include cervical physiotherapy and the use of medications that improve blood circulation and remove blood stasis to treat cervical spondylosis. It is also important to take care of the cervical spine by not sitting for too long; if sitting for extended periods, one should get up and move to stretch the muscles and bones. Performing the "little bird flying" exercise, where the head is leaned back and both arms are extended backwards, can effectively relieve cervical spondylosis and the pain caused by cervical compression of the greater occipital nerve. Additionally, the pillow should not be too high when sleeping at night.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
42sec home-news-image

How to relieve neuralgia

Firstly, symptomatic treatment can be administered to patients. Medications for treating neuralgia mainly include tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors may also be effective. These medications should be taken under the advice of a doctor when necessary to help alleviate pain. Secondly, localized block treatment can also achieve certain clinical effects. Thirdly, it is crucial to identify the cause of the neuralgia and treat it accordingly. For example, if a patient’s neuralgia is caused by optic neuromyelitis, corticosteroids should be used; if it is due to herpes zoster virus infection, antiviral medications are required.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
50sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
1min 8sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
58sec home-news-image

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.