What Is Neuropathic Pain and What Causes It
5 Most Common Types of Neuropathic Pain
While there are numerous types of neuropathic pain, some of the common ones include:
1. Sciatica—
One of the predominant types of neuropathic pain, with more than three million cases of sciatica diagnosed in the US every year. Patients often describe it as radiating pain which begins in their lower back or pelvic area and goes on to shoot down one or both legs. Sciatica can be caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which is the biggest nerve in our bodies.
2. Carpal tunnel syndrome—
Almost as common as sciatica, CTS is also known as median nerve compression. This neuropathic pain condition is the result of a pinched nerve in the wrist, and it causes numbness and tingling in the wrist, thumb, and fingers of the corresponding hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome has been known to mostly affect people with an injury associated with repetitive movements, e.g. typing away at our computers.
3. Diabetic neuropathy—
A condition most common among those suffering from diabetes. There are four types of diabetic neuropathy: peripheral, autonomic, proximal and focal, but the most common one is peripheral, which causes stabbing or burning pain in the hands and feet of diabetic patients.
4. Central pain syndrome—
This type of neuropathic pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, including stroke, tumors, multiple sclerosis, brain or spinal cord trauma, epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease. The intensity of the pain will depend on the extent of damage of the nervous system, and it can pain can even be worsened by a number of factors including temperature, touch, movement, or emotions.
5. Postherpetic neuralgia—
A complication that can occur in people who had shingles, i.e. after the varicella zoster virus (chickenpox) had reactivated within their body later in life. While this condition typically does not last forever, it can persist for months or even years, requiring people to seek medical attention.
Source: https://neuroscience.md/blog/what-is-neuropathic-pain-and-what-causes-it