Neuropathic Pain Definition, Examples, and Treatment

Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to a nerve. Nerve damage can result from a traumatic injury, an illness, or the natural degenerative process of aging. In the spine, nerve damage is most commonly caused by anatomical abnormalities that exert pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord itself. Some common examples of this are herniated discs, bulging discs, bone spurs, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and spinal osteoarthritis. It can range from mild and intermittent compression of the nerve that only causes brief periods of pain or tingling to prolonged compression that leads to numbness, paralysis, and muscle atrophy.

Neuropathic Symptoms

If you experience any of the following neuropathic symptoms, see your doctor. Try to describe your discomfort to the doctor as accurately and honestly as possible, noting the severity, frequency, and location of each bout of pain.

• Tingling or a pins-and-needles sensation anywhere along the spine
• Localized pain that may feel like a cramp
• Radiating pain that feels electric in nature
• Any periods of numbness or loss of feeling in any part of the body
• Weakness or loss of coordination in any part of the body
• Muscle spasms

Sciatica – An Example of Neuropathic Pain

A common example of neuropathic pain is sciatica, which is a term used to describe the symptoms of a compressed sciatic nerve. While sciatic pain may begin in the lumbar spine (lower back), it spreads through the buttocks, hips, legs, and feet. Compressed nerves can also occur in the thoracic (middle back) and cervical (neck) regions of the spine. Cervical neuropathic pain could present in the shoulders, arms, and hands, while thoracic neuropathic pain could present around the kidneys, chest, and rib cage.

Treatment Options

At Laser Spine Institute, we specialize in minimally invasive, endoscopic procedures that safely and effectively target neuropathy in the spinal column. If you’ve tried weeks or months of conservative treatments and the risks of an open spine surgery are deterring you from finding lasting relief, contact Laser Spine Institute. We’d even like to offer you a completely free review of your MRI or CT scan to find out if you could be a candidate for one of our revolutionary procedures.