Nerve pain is also known as a neuralgia. It differs from tissue pain (nociceptive pain) because of the type of sensations that are felt.
The best known neuralgias are:
- Shingles which is called postherpetic neuralgia if pain is felt after the rash has disappeared.
- Trigeminal neuralgia or tic doloreux
- Sciatica and other referred spinal pains
Neuralgias are characterised by the quality of the pain with variable symptoms of shooting pain, skin sensitivity, skin colour changes and swelling amongst commonly described phenomena.
The physical mechanisms by which neuralgias originate, are propagated and perceived by the human nervous system mean that different drugs are required to treat the pain produced. Where tissue pain such as a sore finger are a cut responds to paracetamol and aspirin-like drugs, so neuralgias do not. Instead, antiepileptic drugs and antidepressant drugs are often used along with strong and weak morphine-like drugs or opiates.
Related
Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia Trigeminal Neuralgia Phantom Sensations and Pains Headache – The Trigeminal Cephalalgias Scar Pain