Nerve pain can be extremely uncomfortable and frustrating. It can materialize as stabbing pain, dull aches, numbness or tingling, weakness, or uncontrolled bodily functions. 

Nerve pain, also known as neuropathy, can be difficult to diagnose because the discomfort can appear in one place or you could experience nerve pain throughout the body. Also, the symptoms can be easy to confuse with general soreness, tiredness, or another common illness. At the same time, nerve pain can become chronic (lasting for more than three months) and cause enough discomfort that you cannot perform common daily tasks.

Common types of nerve pain and the symptoms

You won’t know for sure if you have neuropathy until a doctor tests for it. They can find disease or nerve damage with touch-based examinations or electrical stimulation. If you have diabetes or abuse alcohol, they may preemptively test for neuropathy.

The first step, however, is to identify the symptoms so that you can decide if you need to make an appointment for such tests.

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy usually starts with an unpleasant tingling or numbness in your hands and feet. The sensation can spread out to your arms and legs. Patients with this type of nerve condition can also be highly sensitive to touch, and they may drop things that they are holding for no apparent reason. In extreme cases, people can even fall down or stumble when they are standing or walking normally.

Diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy and the related proximal neuropathy are caused by diabetes. Symptoms can vary and may include extreme pain in the lower body, hips, and thighs, sores that won’t heal, and excessive numbness or tingling in extremities. Diabetes can also cause nerve damage leading to digestive problems or blurred vision.

Autonomic neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system controls blood pressure, digestion, and the reproductive system. Damage to this system can lead to fluctuating blood pressure, digestive or bowel problems, nausea, excessive sweating, and sexual dysfunction in both men and women.

Mononeuropathy

Mononeuropathy, also known as focal neuropathy, is when nerve damage causes pain or other symptoms to one nerve. The most common locations for focal neuropathy are the arms, legs, face, or lower body. The symptoms can be similar to peripheral neuropathy, but they are focused on one specific area. Sometimes mononeuropathy can affect the face, causing temporary paralysis of one cheek or vision problems.

Treatment for nerve pain

If you think you have nerve pain throughout the body or in one place, whether caused by injury or a disease, you can consult a neuropathy specialist at Carolinas Pain Center.

We have the expertise to find the root cause of your nerve pain and provide effective treatments to offer relief, help you manage your condition, or cure underlying ailments that are causing the pain. Set an appointment with us today to take the first step in dealing with your nerve pain.