Over 30% of all neuropathy cases occur because of diabetes, but shingles, alcoholism, and other factors can also contribute to neuropathy. If you’re suffering from shooting, burning, stabbing pains, or abnormal sensations in different parts of your body, you might need neurology care. The Multiple Sclerosis and Neurology Institute of Austin is led by a team of neurological experts specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, and neurological pain. Please schedule a consultation to explore your neurology care and neuropathy treatment options in Austin.
What are neurological conditions?
Neurological conditions are medical disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves located throughout the body. You may suffer from numerous biochemical, electrical, and structural abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, which can trigger a complex range of symptoms, such as chronic pain, headaches, migraines, confusion, seizures, loss of sensations, muscle weakness, paralysis, and changes to your communication, movement, cognition, vision, and hearing.
The brain, spinal cord, and nerves are responsible for communication between various body parts and muscles, so neurological disorders can lead to broad symptoms, such as an inability to control your muscles and movement. There are over 600 neurological conditions, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, and each condition must be treated after a thorough evaluation. If you have the symptoms of neurological disorders, please consult our neurological experts immediately.
What are some of the most common neurological conditions?
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Brain aneurysm
- Concussions
- Degenerative disc disease
- Dementia
- Epilepsy
- Headaches
- Movement disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuropathy
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Parkinson’s disease
- Seizures
- Spasticity
- Strokes
- Tremors
What is neuropathic pain?
Neuropathic pain, also known as neurological pain, occurs when nerves are damaged or malfunctioning. If the nervous system is damaged, you may experience painful symptoms from the spinal cord, brain, or peripheral nerves that spread to the rest of your body. The damaged nerve endings may send incorrect signals to the brain, leading to the sensation of pain. If you’re suffering from neurological pain, the neurological experts must identify the damaged nerve fibers and curate a personalized treatment plan.
What are the symptoms of neuropathic pain?
The specific signs and symptoms of neuropathic pain depend on which component of the nervous system is damaged. You may experience painful symptoms and loss of control in various parts of the body. The symptoms of neuropathic pain are usually clubbed into three broad categories — spontaneous pain, evoked pain, and hypoalgesia.
The following is an overview of the types of neuropathic pain symptoms:
- Spontaneous Pain: You may suffer from spontaneous neuropathic pain without a painful trigger. The sensations might be mild or severe, ranging from tingling and numbness to severe burning pains, stabbing pains, and shooting pains. The location of the pain depends on the affected peripheral nerves.
- Evoked Pain: You may experience pain and discomfort when you touch something that’s not usually painful, such as your skin grazing against a fabric or blanket. Furthermore, you may experience heightened pain because of pain-causing stimuli.
- Hypoalgesia: You experience less pain while touching usually painful objects, such as an extremely hot pan on the stove.
How is the root cause of
neuropathic pain diagnosed?
Neuropathic pain can affect every aspect of your life, making it difficult to perform daily activities. Your neurological expert will discuss your symptoms, perform physical examinations, and review your medical history during a thorough evaluation. The medical provider will also use various nerve studies and diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of neuropathic pain. If you have the signs and symptoms of neuropathy, please contact our neurological experts to explore your treatment options in Austin.
What are the possible causes of neuropathic pain?
Over 30% of all neuropathy cases are caused by diabetes, but you may also experience neuropathic pain because of other conditions, such as alcoholism, metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, infections, and more.
What are the treatments
for neuropathic pain?
The Multiple Sclerosis and Neurology Institute of Austin is led by highly-skilled and compassionate neurological experts who understand that neuropathic pain can be debilitating. The primary goal of the treatment is to address the underlying disease responsible for neuropathic pain. Besides addressing the root cause of pain, the medical provider will also offer medications to alleviate the symptoms and help you maintain functionality. Your treatment plan may include physical therapy, nerve stimulation, medications, nerve blocks, and steroids. Please schedule a consultation to explore your neuropathy treatment options in Austin.