Trigeminal neuralgia
It impacts any of the 3 trigeminal nerves that supply either side of the face, and can sometimes affect 2 branches at once. The 1-sided pain of trigeminal neuralgia may extend through the cheek, mouth, nose and/or jaw muscles. This condition is characterized by a lancinating, shooting, electric-like sensation that can last from a few seconds to several minutes. Pain may be initiated by stimulating trigger points on the face, lips or gums, or by facial muscle movement, such as chewing.
Sciatica
It is characterized by pain radiating from the back into the buttock and into the leg. The pain may travel below the knee and may also involve the foot. Lower leg muscles may become numb or weak. Sciatica is most commonly caused by prolapse of the intervertebral disc. This term is also used to describe pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve.
Cancer pain
It can be nociceptive, neuropathic or mixed in nature. Neuropathic pain in cancer patients can occur via various mechanisms, such as by nerve compression or injury caused directly by the tumour, or by cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. Common symptoms include spontaneous burning pain, intermittent sharp or stabbing pain, hyperalgesia and allodynia.
Post-stroke pain
It is characterized by pain in body areas that have lost sensory innervation due to disruption of the spinothalamic tract as a direct result of the stroke.
Postherpetic neuralgia
It is a neuropathic pain syndrome that occurs following an acute attack of herpes zoster (shingles). It is defined as pain persisting for more than 3 months after the active herpes zoster lesions have healed, and involves constant aching, burning or itching with intermittent, severe, lancinating pain. Allodynia and hyperalgesia may also occur.
Peripheral or painful diabetic neuropathy
It is a peripheral, autonomic or cranial nerve disorder associated with diabetes mellitus. These conditions usually result from diabetic microvascular injury involving small blood vessels that supply nerves. It is estimated that over 50% of diabetic patients may experience a neuropathy during their lifetime, although not all neuropathies are painful. Painful neuropathy is generally described as superficial and affects the feet and hands. Burning, tingling and allodynia are typically reported.
Painful upper limb
It describes a range of painful syndromes affecting the upper limbs, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve in the hand as it passes through the carpal tunnel, a narrow passage in the wrist comprised of bone and the transverse carpal ligament. Overuse, injury, friction, fractures, fluid retention and forceful movements are common causes. One of the first symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness in the hand, thumb, index finger and middle finger, soon followed by pain in the same area.
Complex regional pain syndrome
It describes a variety of syndromes that may follow injury, commonly to an extremity. Patients describe their pain as constant, burning, aching and throbbing, and this may be combined with autonomic and tissue changes at the injury site. The pain usually begins days to weeks after the injury, and persists beyond the time normally expected for the injury to heal. The pain tends to radiate to an entire anatomic region, such as the distal leg and foot.
The information above is used for educational purpose only, for any enquiries, please consult your neurosurgeon for medical advices.
