Neuralgias

Alternative names:

nerve pain; postherpetic neuralgia

Definition:

Conditions involving pain along the path of a nerve.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause of neuralgias may be injury or irritation of the nerve, but in many cases the cause is unknown or unidentifiable. Neuralgias occur most commonly in elderly persons but can occur at any age.

Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) is the most common form of neuralgia. It affects mostly women, usually those older than 50 years. It involves sudden, severe pain on one side of the face, in one of the areas supplied by the trigeminal nerve. The pain may be severe enough to cause a facial tic. The cause is occasionally a blood vessel or small tumor pressing on the nerve, or disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Certain movements such as speech, chewing, swallowing, or similar movements, or touching an area of the face, may trigger a spasm of excruciating pain. In some cases, even a breeze blowing on the affected area can cause pain.

Some neuralgias occur as a result of herpes infections such as shingles (postherpetic neuralgia). This can produce a constant burning pain, worsened by movement or contact with the affected area. The pain can be debilitating long after signs of the original herpes infection have disappeared.

Neuralgias that occur after injury to an area may involve any area of the body. Neuralgias other than trigeminal neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia are rare.