How does neuropathy differ from neuralgia?
November 13, 2022 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Jonas Schmitt
Dear Doctor,
I am reaching out to you because I am currently struggling with some health issues and would like to learn more about the differences between neuropathy and neuralgia.
Background information: My name is Wolfgang Bacigalupo and I have been experiencing pain, numbness, and tingling in various parts of my body for some time now. These symptoms mainly affect my hands, feet, and legs, and are increasingly impacting my daily life. I have already undergone some tests, including nerve conduction velocity testing.
Current situation: Despite these tests, I am unsure whether my symptoms can be attributed to neuropathy or neuralgia. I feel uncertain and would like to learn more in order to actively seek solutions for my complaints.
My concerns: The persistent pain and numbness are causing me great concern and significantly affecting my quality of life. I would like to understand the differences between neuropathy and neuralgia in order to find the right treatment for my symptoms.
Question: Could you please explain to me how neuropathy differs from neuralgia and what signs and symptoms are typical for each condition? Additionally, I would like to know what diagnosis and treatment options are available to specifically alleviate my complaints and improve my quality of life.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Wolfgang Bacigalupo
Dear Mr. Bacigalupo,
I would like to explain in detail the differences between neuropathy and neuralgia to help you classify your symptoms.
Neuropathy is a condition of the peripheral nervous system in which the nerves are damaged. This damage can be caused by various factors such as diabetes, alcohol abuse, vitamin deficiency, or infections. Typical symptoms of neuropathy include pain, numbness, tingling, muscle cramps, muscle weakness, and coordination problems. These symptoms can occur in various parts of the body, especially in the hands, feet, and legs. The nerve conduction velocity test you have already undergone is an important diagnostic procedure to determine the extent of nerve damage in neuropathy.
On the other hand, neuralgia is a pain disorder in which nerves are irritated or compressed without any structural damage. Typical symptoms of neuralgia include stabbing, burning, or electrifying pain that runs along the affected nerve. These pains can be triggered or exacerbated by certain movements or touches. Neuralgia often occurs in the face (trigeminal neuralgia) or in the spinal area (sciatica).
To treat your symptoms effectively, it is important to identify the exact cause of your symptoms. This can be done through a thorough medical history, physical examination, imaging techniques such as MRI or CT scans, and further neurophysiological tests. The treatment of neuropathies and neuralgias depends on the underlying cause and the individual symptoms of the patient. Possible treatment options include pain relief medications, physiotherapy, nerve blocks, nerve stimulation, or in severe cases, surgical interventions.
I recommend that you consult a neurologist to further investigate your symptoms and receive targeted treatment. Early diagnosis and therapy are crucial to avoid long-term damage and improve your quality of life.
I hope that my explanations are helpful to you and I am available for any further questions.
Best regards,
Jonas Schmitt
