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Nerve pain or neuropathy is not your typical pain issue. For people who have muscle or joint pain, treatment might include ice, heat, over the counter pain meds, and anti-inflammatories. For those living with nerve pain, the treatment is different because the source of pain is different. Nerve pain is caused by damaged peripheral nerves that send incorrect signals to your central nervous system and brain. Nerve damage can feel like burning, tingling or stabbing pain radiating from one part of the body into the other. This damage can be caused by a variety of reasons, a few common examples are:
- Diabetes or other metabolic conditions
- Injury or trauma
- Autoimmune conditions
- Stroke
- Blood vessel disorders
- Viral Infections
Over-the-counter Nerve pain treatment
Treating nerve pain can be difficult because of the source of the pain. In fact, severe nerve pain can’t be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen alone. Over the counter treatments can be helpful alongside a prescription from your neurologist. Check with your doctor about what you can take to aid in your pain relief. There are several topical creams or ointments to try that can help dull localized pain. You can try:
- Lidocaine - A local anesthetic that is made into creams, gels, sprays, or patches. Higher strength lidocaine products are also available by prescription.
- Capsaicin – The spicy compound found in chili peppers; it has been found to offer mild to moderate pain relief when used in a patch on the skin.
- Menthol – The natural compound found in peppermint plants can provide cooling, temporary relief of pain when applied as a cream, gel or spray.
Nerve Pain: Prescriptions for Relief
Often, nerve pain can be reduced by treating the underlying cause, so it's important to stick to your treatment plan for other conditions. If your nerve pain remains, there are several treatments on the market to help. It may take a few tries to figure out which treatment will work best for you, but your doctor has some options to try:
Anticonvulsants like gabapentin and pregabalin were originally designed to control seizures, but they also dull pain signals from your nerves. They are now widely used to manage chronic pain. They take around a month to kick in and your doctor will gradually increase your dosage as they see fit.
Tricyclic Anti-depressants like amitriptyline and doxepin are often prescribed for mild pain and can also improve mood. Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine are also prescribed. They can have the same effect with less side effects, but more research is needed to ensure the same level of effectiveness.
Combat Pain at Home
You will want to try OTC pain relievers with your prescription treatment plan, plus some self-care at home. Healthy lifestyle choices can improve your overall well-being and ultimately help reduce your pain by making sure your body gets the rest, exercise, fuel and relaxation it needs to function at its best. Go over the checklist below to determine where you can make improvements in your self-care routine:
- Stick to a healthy sleep schedule and limit screen time before bed for more restorative sleep.
- Go for a walk, practice yoga or tai-chi or another exercise to boost your activity levels.
- Eat healthy! A diet consisting of lots of veggies, whole grains and lean proteins gives your body the fuel it needs to cope with pain.
- Practice mindfulness, meditation or deep breathing to get through moments of stress or severe pain.
Find Support
Connecting with others who are experiencing chronic pain is crucial to truly understanding how to manage it. You can learn helpful self-care techniques or insights through support groups locally or online, like PatientsLikeMe. Join our Chronic Pain Community today!