Neuropathy Pain Symptoms
Neuropathies are disorders or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves--those outside the brain and spinal cord 2. Hereditary diseases, trauma, toxins, infections, medications and systemic and autoimmune diseases can all cause neuropathy in which sensory and motor functions -- muscle movement and strength -- can be impaired. Pain is a common symptom whenever a sensory nerves sustains neuropathic damage.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Burning and Pinprick Sensations
Sensory neuropathies can cause burning and pinprick sensations, which generally indicate involvement of small-fiber sensory nerves. Tingling, numbness, itching and weakness may accompany these symptoms. Disorders associated with this type of neuropathic pain include diabetic neuropathy, HIV-related neuropathy, Lyme disease, sarcoidosis, shingles, systemic lupus erythematosus, niacin and thiamine deficiencies, stress injuries (such as:
- carpal tunnel syndrome)
- multiple sclerosis
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
Typical Pain
Joint Pain from Herpes
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Whereas the burning and pinprick varieties of neuropathic pain are considered aberrant or unusual sensations, more typical pain also occurs. Typical pain can occur with any of the disorders and conditions that cause aberrant neuropathic pain, however, some causes of neuropathy are more likely to elicit this type of pain than others. These include:
- diabetes
- alcoholism
- toxins
- shingles
- sarcoidosis
- systemic lupus erythematosus
Allodynia
Neuropathy can result in extreme sensitivity to touch, which triggers a pain response from an experience or stimulus that does not normally cause pain. This abnormal pain response is called allodynia. In its most extreme form, this symptom makes it difficult to tolerate the movement of air, wearing clothing, bathing and a myriad of other tasks of daily living wherein the skin makes contact with the environment.
Muscular Pain
Causes of Burning Calf Pain
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Muscular pain, also known as myalgia, may be a symptom of neuropathy. Conditions associated with neuropathic myalgia include high-dose l-tryptophan ingestion, fibromyalgia, Sjögren’s syndrome, porphyria and amyloidosis.
Localized Pain
Some neuropathies are associated with pain limited to a specific area of the body. Trigeminal neuralgia -- also known as tic douloureux -- is a peripheral neuropathy involving the trigeminal nerve of the face. The disorder causes intense episodic pain on one side of the face--commonly in the jaw, cheek or temporal area. Spinal cord injuries also cause localized neuropathic pain; the location of the pain is usually dictated by the area of the spinal cord that was injured.
- Some neuropathies are associated with pain limited to a specific area of the body.
- Spinal cord injuries also cause localized neuropathic pain; the location of the pain is usually dictated by the area of the spinal cord that was injured.
Related Articles
References
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Writer Bio
Dr. Tina M. St. John owns and operates a health communications and consulting firm. She is also an accomplished medical writer and editor, and was formerly a senior medical officer with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. St. John holds an M.D. from Emory University School of Medicine.