Nerve Pain Relief
What is Neuropathic Pain?
Neuropathic pain, also known as nerve pain, is pain caused by a problem in the nervous system. Instead of pain coming mainly from an injured muscle, joint, or bone, it happens when a nerve isn’t sending normal signals. The nerve can become sort of miswired and start sending pain signals even without a clear injury in the area.
This type of pain can affect nerves in different parts of the body, including nerves that travel through your arms, legs, hands, and feet, as well as nerves connected to the spine. Because nerves carry signals between the brain and the rest of the body, neuropathic pain can feel different from usual soreness or inflammation-related pain.
Nerve Pain Symptoms
- Burning, stabbing, or electric shock pain. It can show up without a clear reason.
- Pins and needles. A prickly sensation that may come and go.
- Numbness. Less feeling in an area, sometimes along with pain.
- Allodynia. Pain from things that normally don’t hurt at all, like light touch, clothing, or a cool breeze.
- Hyperalgesia. Severe pain from something that usually hurts only a little.
- Unusual sensations (dysesthesia). Weird, unpleasant feelings that are hard to describe and explain, even if nothing is touching the area.
- Sleep problems. Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because symptoms trigger at night.
What Causes Nerve Pain
- Diabetes. High blood sugar over time can damage nerves, especially in the feet and legs.
- Alcohol-related nerve damage. Long-term heavy alcohol use can damage nerves.
- Shingles. A past shingles infection can leave lasting nerve damage in the affected area.
- HIV/AIDS. Some infections can affect nerve health and trigger neuropathic pain.
- Stroke and other brain/spinal cord conditions. Problems in the central nervous system can change how pain signals are processed.
- Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). Neurologic conditions can disrupt normal nerve signaling and cause irreversible nerve damage and pain.
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). A chronic pain condition that can develop after an injury and cause nerve dysfunction.
- Chemotherapy-related nerve pain. Certain chemo drugs can injure nerves and cause tingling, burning, or numbness.
- Radiation therapy effects. In some cases, radiation can damage nerves in the treated area.
- Nerve compression or inflammation. Pressure on a nerve (for example, near the spine) can trigger nerve pain.
- Injury or surgery. Trauma can damage nerves directly or irritate them during recovery.
- Amputation-related nerve pain. Nerves can continue sending pain signals after limb loss (phantom limb pain).
- Tumors pressing on nerves. A growth can compress a nerve and cause pain in the areas it serves.
How Nerve Pain Is Diagnosed
Nerve pain is usually diagnosed by combining your history with a physical exam. We start by asking what the pain feels like and exactly where it travels. Nerve pain often follows a specific “path,” such as down an arm into the hand or down a leg. We’ll also ask when it started, what triggers it, and how it affects daily life.
Next, we perform a physical exam to assess reflexes and sensation (how you feel light touch, temperature, and pressure). We also look at how your neck, back, and nearby joints move, since nerve pain is often connected to irritation or pressure along the spine.
If we need more clarity, testing can help. Blood work may check for medical issues that affect nerves. Imaging, such as an MRI, can detect nerve compression. In some rare cases, EMG/nerve conduction studies are used.
Nerve Pain Treatment Options
Medications
Used to lower pain and calm irritated nerves, depending on the cause and severity.
Injections
Targeted injections can treat inflammation and interrupt pain signals in a specific nerve pathway.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy helps improve strength, mobility, and posture to reduce pressure or irritation on nerves.
StemWave Therapy
StemWave therapy is a non-invasive option that may help in certain cases by supporting recovery in irritated soft tissues.
Surgery
Considered when there’s a clear structural problem and conservative care can’t help.
When to Seek Nerve Pain Relief
You can seek nerve pain relief in Chicago, IL, at any point. Nerve pain isn’t something you should walk off, especially if it keeps coming back or starts affecting basic daily tasks.
It’s also smart to get evaluated in Chicago, IL, sooner because nerve problems can get harder to treat when they’ve been going on for a long time. Ongoing irritation can cause more nerve damage, and at that point, some neuropathic pain treatments may not work as well as they could have earlier.
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Choose Painless Medical Practice for Neuropathic Pain Treatment in Chicago, IL
At Painless Medical Practice in Chicago, IL, our nerve pain treatment is led by Jaroslav Tymouch, MD, and we focus on clear answers first, then a plan that matches what’s causing your symptoms. We do not use generic solutions and template plans. We also aim for as few visits as possible without sacrificing quality.
We use modern equipment and choose neuropathic pain treatment based on your exam and your pain. That may include image-guided procedures like epidural injections or targeted steroid injections when inflammation or nerve irritation is part of the problem. In certain cases, botox injections may also be used when they fit the diagnosis.
If you’re looking for professional pain management in Chicago, IL, schedule an appointment with our team. We’ll discuss options and help you take the next step toward nerve pain relief.
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FAQs About Nerve Pain Relief in Chicago
What Is Neuropathic Pain?
Neuropathic pain is pain caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system. Instead of coming from a strained muscle or inflamed joint, the pain originates from irritated or damaged nerves that send abnormal signals to the brain.
It can affect nerves in the arms, legs, hands, feet, or along the spine, and often feels very different from typical soreness or inflammation-related pain.
What Causes Nerve Pain?
Nerve pain can be caused by diabetes, shingles, nerve compression near the spine, injuries, surgery, chemotherapy, or neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.
Other causes include infections, alcohol-related nerve damage, tumors pressing on nerves, stroke, and chronic pain conditions like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Identifying the underlying cause is essential for choosing the right treatment.
What Does Nerve Pain Feel Like?
Nerve pain often feels like burning, stabbing, shooting, or electric shock-like sensations. Some people experience tingling (“pins and needles”), numbness, or heightened sensitivity to touch.
Even light contact from clothing or a cool breeze may feel painful. Symptoms can travel along a specific nerve path, such as down an arm or leg.
How To Treat Nerve Pain?
How to treat nerve pain depends on what is irritating or damaging the nerve. Treatment may include medications designed to calm nerve signaling, physical therapy to reduce pressure on affected nerves, and injections to decrease inflammation.
In some cases, non-invasive therapies may be considered. Surgery is typically reserved for situations where there is a clear structural problem that cannot be managed conservatively.
When Should I Seek Medical Care For Nerve Pain?
You should seek evaluation if nerve pain is persistent, worsening, spreading, or interfering with walking, sleep, work, or daily activities.
What People Say About Neuropathic Pain Treatment
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If you are looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate and highly skilled professional, I highly recommend Dr Tymouch. His expertise truly stand out!
Dr. Tymouch took the time to carefully explain everything, answer my questions, and made me feel completely at ease throughout the entire visit. He treated my knee pain with injections, and the results were truly amazing and fast. I happy that I will be able to enjoy my vacation without discomfort. I’m so grateful for his care and highly recommend Dr. Tymouch to anyone in need of expert, compassionate treatment.
The team is professional, compassionate, and highly skilled at managing different types of pain.
