(Pain, Neuropathic; Nerve Pain; Pain, Nerve)
by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
Neuropathic pain is pain from damage or disease of the nervous system.
In some people, the cause of nerve pain is not known. In others, it may be caused by things like:
Health problems that may raise the risk are:
Other things that may raise the risk are:
The pain may be all the time or come and go during the day. Some problems may be:
You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. The doctor will ask what your pain is like and when it happens. A physical exam will be done. You may be sent to a doctor who treats the nervous system. You may also need to see a doctor who treats pain.
Tests that may be done are:
Any underlying problems with the need to be treated, such as diabetes.
The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms. Options are:
One or more of these medicines may be given to manage pain:
Some states allow residents to use medical marijuana for health problems. It may be helpful for people with neuropathic pain related to HIV.
Nerve decompression surgery may be advised to ease pain. Other procedures that may be done are:
The risk of neuropathic pain may be lowered by managing other health problems, such as diabetes.
American Chronic Pain Association
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Canadian Diabetes Association
Chronic Pain Association of Canada
Barrell K, Smith AG. Peripheral Neuropathy. Med Clin North Am. 2019 Mar;103(2):383-397.
Causes. The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy website. Available at: https://www.foundationforpn.org/what-is-peripheral-neuropathy/causes. Accessed October 2, 2020.
Peripheral neuropathy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peripheral-neuropathy. Accessed October 2, 2020.
7/20/2015 EBSCO DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peripheral-neuropathy: Whiting PF, Wolff RF, Deshpande S, et al. Cannabinoids for medical use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2015;313(24):2456-2473.
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD
Last Updated: 5/21/2021
EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at email@example.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.
All rights reserved.