6 things you can do to treat nerve pain

Nerve pain can be an annoying and sometimes chronic problem. Therefore, it's important to treat it effectively and to relieve the pain. We'll explain the symptoms, what you can do about them, and present several treatment options.

What are the symptoms of nerve pain?

Nerve pain is also called neuropathy or neuropathic pain. It can occur in various places in the body and manifest in various ways. There are several symptoms that can help you recognize it:

Shooting pain or burning sensation: it may come on suddenly and last for a while;
Tingling: You may experience a prickling or tingling sensation. Some people compare it to pins and needles.
Hypersensitivity: The area where you have nerve pain may become sensitive. Even light touch or temperature changes can be unpleasant;
Spontaneous pain: you can experience spontaneous pain without knowing where it comes from;
Numbness: Nerve pain can also manifest as less sensation or a dull feeling;
Increased pain response: stimuli that normally don't cause pain can now be very unpleasant. This is also called allodynia;
Temperature fluctuations: The affected area may feel colder or warmer than usual. You may also experience chills or a warm feeling without any significant temperature change;
Muscle weakness: Nerve pain can also be associated with damage to the motor nerves. In that case, muscle weakness may occur.

Symptoms can vary from person to person. This depends on the cause, the nerves involved, and the intensity of the nerve pain. If you experience these symptoms, it's wise to consult a doctor.

What makes nerve pain worse?

Certain factors may worsen the pain. This varies from person to person, and it doesn't necessarily get worse for everyone. Common factors that can worsen the pain include:

Stress;
Certain movements;
Bad posture;
Temperature changes;
Alcohol consumption;
Poor nutrition;
Inactivity;
Poor (sleep) hygiene;
Chronic diseases;
Certain medications.

It's important to be able to analyse what's making the symptoms worse. If necessary, consult a doctor to develop a plan.

Can nerve pain be cured?

Nerve pain is often difficult to treat. Because it's usually caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system, it's a difficult condition to resolve. Whether it's treatable depends on the severity and the cause. However, there are certain treatment methods you can use to relieve pain and prevent further damage. For example, low-level laser therapy is increasingly used as a treatment for nerve pain.

How long does nerve pain take to heal?

In exceptional cases, it is possible to completely eliminate this pain. How long this lasts is difficult to determine. There are different types of this pain, each requiring a different approach. These are the following forms of nerve pain:

Chronic;
Acute;
Pain due to recovery or illness;
Postoperative;
Nerve damage due to infections.

To know for sure whether the pain can be cured and how to do this, it is wise to consult a doctor.

Can nerve pain be permanent?

Yes, it can be a persistent pain. Especially if left untreated, the symptoms can worsen. It's important not to ignore the pain. Below, we'll explain various treatment methods for nerve pain.

How do I get rid of nerve pain? 6 tips to treat it

1. Painkillers and medication

Painkillers

For mild pain, painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen can help with nerve pain. In severe cases, these are usually less effective. In that case, your GP can prescribe alternative painkillers.

Medication

Medications like gabapentin or pregabalin are often used to treat nerve pain. Only a doctor can prescribe the right medication.

2. Physiotherapy

Mobilisation exercises

Physiotherapy can help improve mobility. It also helps strengthen muscles and reduce pressure on nerves. This can relieve nerve pain.

3. Lifestyle adjustments

Healthy food

Eating a balanced diet can help support your nerves and reduce pain. Make sure you eat enough vitamins and minerals.

Regular exercise

Regular exercise makes your body more flexible. This can reduce pain and improve overall nerve health.

Stress management

High levels of stress can worsen pain. Therefore, try techniques like meditation, yoga, or mindfulness to reduce stress.

4. Light therapy

Red light therapy

Low-level laser therapy, or red light therapy, is increasingly used to treat nerve pain. This treatment method improves blood flow and penetrates deep into the body's tissues and cells. This restores cellular energy, which contributes to pain relief. It's a good alternative pain treatment for nerve pain. We'll explain more about red light therapy for nerve pain later in this article.

5. Local treatments

Capsaicin cream

This cream is made from chili pepper extract and can be applied directly to the skin. It temporarily numbs the pain receptors, which can reduce nerve pain for a short time.

Lidocaine patches

These patches can temporarily numb the nerves. They can be applied directly to the affected area to relieve pain. This is not a treatment, but it is a temporary solution for the pain.

6. Alternative therapies

Acupuncture

Acupuncture helps restore the body's energy balance and improve blood circulation. This can relieve nerve pain.

Massage

A gentle massage can relax muscles and improve blood flow. This is a pleasant and relaxing method for pain relief.

Nerve pain and red light therapy

Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy, can be effective in treating nerve pain and neuropathy. The red laser light penetrates deeply into the tissues without heating. This provides several beneficial effects:

• Cellular healing;

• Reduction of inflammation;

• Improved blood circulation;

• Pain relief.

These properties make red light therapy an effective treatment for various causes of the complaint. It is a safe treatment method with few to no side effects.

We've already helped many people reduce or prevent pain, complaints, and various conditions. View all experiences with ankle pain and other experiences with our PowerCure low-level laser.

Experiences

Red light therapy and science

The use of low-level laser therapy, also known as red light therapy, has been scientifically proven. This therapy uses laser devices with a specific frequency of low-power light energy. This light interacts with the tissues in your body, reducing pain, swelling, inflammation, and various conditions.

What can PowerCure laser therapy do for your nerve pain?

The PowerCure laser is an effective treatment for pain, inflammation, conditions, injuries, and more. It's also a useful treatment for nerve pain and other nerve-related complaints. Just a few minutes of laser therapy daily can reduce pain and symptoms. View our treatment protocol for nerve pain here.

Nerve pain treatment protocol

Want to learn more about the PowerCure (Pro) laser and what it can help you with? Then take a look here.

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