How to relieve neuralgia

Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
Updated on September 28, 2024
00:00
00:00

Neuropathic pain can be relieved through treatments such as medication, physical therapy, and surgery. Medications used primarily include antiepileptic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin, sodium diclofenac, ibuprofen, and celecoxib.

Physical therapy mainly involves localized heat application, massage, manipulation, and acupuncture. Surgical treatment is mainly suitable for patients who do not respond well to medication and physical therapy. Currently, the surgical approach mainly involves minimally invasive surgery to relieve nerve compression, thereby alleviating the symptoms of neuropathic pain.

Beyond symptomatic treatment, it is important to identify and treat the underlying cause of the neuropathic pain, such as tumors, trauma, diabetes, etc. These causes can lead to neuropathic symptoms, so it is crucial to actively control these underlying diseases to potentially relieve neuropathic pain at its root.

(Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
56sec home-news-image

How to deal with occipital neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia is a relatively common type of neuralgia, and the following recommendations are suggested for its management: Firstly, it is important to identify the cause of the occipital neuralgia. There are many potential causes, such as cervical spondylosis, viral infections, or metastasis of tumors, among others. Actively searching for the cause and addressing it effectively, especially if it stems from cervical spine issues, is crucial. Secondly, medication can be used to alleviate symptoms. This typically includes painkillers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the pain is more pronounced, medications used to treat neuralgia, such as antiepileptic drugs, can also be considered. Thirdly, local physical therapy, acupuncture, and, if necessary, local block treatment in the area most affected by occipital neuralgia, can also be effective.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
52sec home-news-image

How is neuralgia treated?

Neuralgia can cause severe pain and significantly impact a patient's life. Treatment for neuralgia primarily focuses on the following aspects: First, treatment should be based on the cause of the pain. For instance, if the patient suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, antiepileptic drugs may be prescribed. Surgery may be necessary in some cases. If the neuralgia is caused by a viral infection, active antiviral treatment is required. If tumor cells invade and cause the neuralgia, tumor treatment should be administered. The second type of treatment involves symptomatic management. This mainly includes medications to relieve neuralgia, commonly comprising tricyclic antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs, which can be effective in alleviating the pain and should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
42sec home-news-image

How to relieve neuralgia

Firstly, symptomatic treatment can be administered to patients. Medications for treating neuralgia mainly include tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors may also be effective. These medications should be taken under the advice of a doctor when necessary to help alleviate pain. Secondly, localized block treatment can also achieve certain clinical effects. Thirdly, it is crucial to identify the cause of the neuralgia and treat it accordingly. For example, if a patient’s neuralgia is caused by optic neuromyelitis, corticosteroids should be used; if it is due to herpes zoster virus infection, antiviral medications are required.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
55sec home-news-image

How is intercostal neuralgia treated?

In our clinical practice, for intercostal neuralgia, we generally have the following treatment methods: The first type is oral medication, specifically non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can alleviate pain. The second type is traditional Chinese medicine, such as drugs that invigorate blood circulation and remove blood stasis, which can also increase local blood circulation to relieve pain. The third method is to use acupuncture, which has comparatively good therapeutic effects on this type of intercostal neuralgia. Generally speaking, most cases of intercostal neuralgia do not last very long. Regardless of which method you choose, you can achieve relatively good results, so the above methods are the most common treatments for intercostal neuralgia. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on specific circumstances.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min home-news-image

How to diagnose occipital neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia is a very common condition, generally characterized by pain in the back of the head. The nature of the pain is usually dull, but it can radiate to the top of the head. To diagnose occipital neuralgia, the main examination is to see if there are any significant tender points along the course of the greater occipital nerve. If there are obvious tender points, it is likely that occipital neuralgia is a possibility. Additionally, there are some underlying causes of occipital neuralgia, such as cervical spondylosis, osteoarthritis, or inflammation of muscles in the head and neck area, and even some tumors. Therefore, it is necessary to perform comprehensive auxiliary examinations to rule out these related diseases, including MRI of the cervical spine and X-rays. Treatment is relatively simple and may include the administration of nerve-nourishing medications and pain relievers. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)