Many people think of a “pinched nerve” when they hear “nerve pain,” but Dr. Nikesh Seth knows there are many causes of this unique and acute annoyance. Integrated Pain Consultants offers a variety of options for treatment so that you can avoid dependency on pain medications and risky surgeries. The first step is determining the cause of the nerve pain.
Nerve pain can be a side effect of a number of conditions like cancer, diabetes, HIV, and shingles. The severity can range from mild to completely debilitating. It’s been described as burning, electric shocks, or pinpricks. Studies report that nerve pain sufferers also have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.
Nerve pain may or may not be treatable, but the pain can certainly be addressed. This can be life-changing for severe sufferers, or for those already struggling with a condition that caused the nerve pain. Nerve pain exists as a way for your body to know that something’s wrong. Pain is our body’s way of preventing injury. After all, if you didn’t feel pain when you first stepped on a shard of broken glass, nothing would keep you from taking another step into the danger zone.
However, with nerve pain there’s not always a real cause of pain—the body is reacting despite no danger being present. This also means there’s no immediate relief. Cancer has been known to cause nerve pain as the tumor presses against nearby nerves. Cancer can also grow on the actual nerves, disrupting neural signaling. In other cases, cancer treatment like chemotherapy can be the cause of nerve pain. Those with diabetes could maintain glucose levels that are high enough to injure nerves.
Physical injuries can pinch, sever, compress, or crush the nerves. Nerve pain can also be caused by hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and heart disease. Once the cause of the nerve pain is determined, managing the pain can begin. If you’re looking for options that are drug-free and have minimal downtime, contact Integrated Pain Consultants at 480-626-2552.