How to relieve neuralgia

Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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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 Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to deal with occipital neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia is a relatively common type of neuralgia, and the following recommendations are suggested for its management: Firstly, it is important to identify the cause of the occipital neuralgia. There are many potential causes, such as cervical spondylosis, viral infections, or metastasis of tumors, among others. Actively searching for the cause and addressing it effectively, especially if it stems from cervical spine issues, is crucial. Secondly, medication can be used to alleviate symptoms. This typically includes painkillers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the pain is more pronounced, medications used to treat neuralgia, such as antiepileptic drugs, can also be considered. Thirdly, local physical therapy, acupuncture, and, if necessary, local block treatment in the area most affected by occipital neuralgia, can also be effective.

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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.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How is neuralgia treated?

Neuralgia can cause severe pain and significantly impact a patient's life. Treatment for neuralgia primarily focuses on the following aspects: First, treatment should be based on the cause of the pain. For instance, if the patient suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, antiepileptic drugs may be prescribed. Surgery may be necessary in some cases. If the neuralgia is caused by a viral infection, active antiviral treatment is required. If tumor cells invade and cause the neuralgia, tumor treatment should be administered. The second type of treatment involves symptomatic management. This mainly includes medications to relieve neuralgia, commonly comprising tricyclic antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs, which can be effective in alleviating the pain and should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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How is intercostal neuralgia treated?

In our clinical practice, for intercostal neuralgia, we generally have the following treatment methods: The first type is oral medication, specifically non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can alleviate pain. The second type is traditional Chinese medicine, such as drugs that invigorate blood circulation and remove blood stasis, which can also increase local blood circulation to relieve pain. The third method is to use acupuncture, which has comparatively good therapeutic effects on this type of intercostal neuralgia. Generally speaking, most cases of intercostal neuralgia do not last very long. Regardless of which method you choose, you can achieve relatively good results, so the above methods are the most common treatments for intercostal neuralgia. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on specific circumstances.)

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia

Intercostal neuralgia is essentially caused by inherent reasons, or pathological changes in the thoracic vertebrae, ribs, and pleura, leading to an inflammatory symptom involving the intercostal nerves. Therefore, the primary symptom of intercostal neuralgia is pain, but this pain has certain characteristics. First, the pain commonly occurs in the left second rib and the right second, third, and fourth ribs. Second, the range of the pain is usually semicircular; it does not extend beyond the anterior midline at the front or the posterior midline at the back, forming a semicircular pain along the ribs. Third, there are often fixed tender points, which sometimes are located in the costal cartilage or corresponding thoracic vertebrae and paraspinal area; these points, when pressed or tapped, can cause radiating pain. Fourth, many times the examination results are negative, so intercostal neuralgia tends to be a condition where the symptoms are severe, but physical examination often yields very few positive signs.