Neuralgia

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Central nervous system

Nerve pain

• Increased sensitivity of the skin along the path of the damaged nerve, so that any touch or pressure is felt as pain
• Numbness along the path of the nerve
  • In the same location each episode
  • Sharp, stabbing
  • May come and go (intermittent), or be constant, burning pain
  • May get worse when the area is moved
• Weakness or complete paralysis of muscles supplied by the same nerve

The health care provider will take a complete history, including:

• When the pain started
• Any potentially related medical problems
• Any recent injuries or changes in health

An examination may show:

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• Abnormal sensation in the skin
• Loss of deep tendon reflexes
• Loss of muscle mass
• Lack of sweating (sweating is controlled by nerves)
• Tenderness along a nerve, often in the lower face and jaw and rarely in the temple and forehead
• Trigger points (areas where even a slight touch triggers pain)

A dental examination can rule out dental disorders that may cause facial pain (such as a tooth abscess). Other symptoms (such as redness or swelling) may help rule out conditions such as infections, bone fractures, or rheumatoid arthritis.

There are no specific tests for neuralgia, but the following tests may be done to find the cause of the pain:

• Blood tests to check blood sugar, kidney function, and other possible causes of neuralgia
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Nerve conduction study with electromyography
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)

Review Date: 09/28/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).