Living with neuropathic pain is a condition that affects many parts of a patient’s physical and psychological being, causing symptoms like fatigue, mood swing, and mental disorders like depression. Treatment for neuropathic pain in Austin is mainly for management purposes. Every patient must visit a pain clinic for assessment to find the right treatment option to solve all your concerns.
The best way for your doctor to find out what works for you is through the trial-and-error technique. However, your doctor will start with conventional treatments that do not require surgery because these solutions have fewer complications than invasive procedures. Although painkillers are the first line of action, you should not have high expectations because most times, these medications are ineffective in providing relief of neuropathic pain, which is why you might be seeking your doctor's help in the first place.
Here are possible treatments your doctor may recommend:
1. Anti-epileptics
In many cases, doctors have prescribed antiepileptic drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin as a solution for neuropathic symptoms, explicitly reducing pain intensity. It would be best not to worry that your doctor recommends this drug because you are at risk of developing epilepsy. After all, specific medications like carbamazepine are a drug that is popular for assisting patients with trigeminal neuralgia without any risk factors for epilepsy. If your doctor recommends antiepileptic medications for your condition, expect some dizziness and headaches as side effects.
2. Opioids
The most common examples include codeine and morphine. Although the evidence is unclear, there have been reports that these drugs can help reduce neuropathic pain. However, it is crucial to speak to your doctor about the risks before getting on an opioid prescription. Nausea and constipation are possible side effects of consuming opioids.
3. Capsaicin Cream
This treatment comes from chili peppers. You are meant to apply this cream to the area where you are experiencing pain. After a few minutes, after the cream has absorbed into your skin, the level of Substance P, which is responsible for inflammation and pain, reduces. Your doctor should recommend regular application of this cream onto the skin for a day. Use it about 3-4 times a day, and you should start to feel results. The only side effect of Capsaicin cream is that the patient may develop localized pain and redness.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
This treatment involves the use of a device that produces mild impulses of electricity. When your doctor places electrodes attached to the machine onto the skin around the area of pain, the electrical impulses produced will stimulate specific parts of the nervous system blocking the signals from reaching the brain and spinal cord. As a result, your muscles relax, and pain significantly reduces. The great thing about this treatment is that you can choose to self-administer TENS as long as you are under supervision.
Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS)
Your doctor will recommend this if your neuropathic pain is refractory. Although PENS works similar to TENS, your doctor will place the electrodes under the skin with a needle that links to the stimulating machine. The only thing to expect from the treatment is a little bruising and tenderness on the site that will go away after a few days.
If pain has affected any part of your life, making it difficult for you to do activities, it is time to seek treatment. Contact Republic Spine and Pain to learn more about the different plausible approaches for your neuropathic pain.
