How Long Does Neuropathic Pain Last?

Neuropathic pain is a type of nerve pain that occurs when your nervous system behaves abnormally or becomes damaged. You may experience pain in your central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) or the peripheral nervous system, the latter of which serves the body outside of the central nervous system.

Peripheral nerve fibers send pain signals to specialized pain centers in the brain. If they become damaged, they send incorrect signals, resulting in neuropathic pain. Nerve function may be altered in the area where the nerves are damaged and in areas within your central nervous system, a condition known as central sensitization.

Neuropathic pain is different from normal pain, which is the body’s usual and correct response to an injury or potential harm. Neuropathic pain continues even after the injury has healed or the illness has cleared, leading to chronic pain conditions that can impact a person’s quality of life.

At the office of Dr. Michael Kullman, our team understands the problems that neuropathic pain can have on your ability to function in your daily life, which is why we offer treatments to help our patients in the White Plains and Pleasant Valley, New York areas. If you’re wondering how long neuropathic pain can last, keep reading to find the answer.

Neuropathic pain symptoms

Symptoms vary widely from one person to another and often because of the underlying cause, as well. You may experience one or more of the following:

Spontaneous pain

This type of pain occurs for no apparent reason, and you may feel a burning, stabbing, or electric-like pain, tingling, numbness, or a “pins and needles” sensation.

Allodynia

Allodynia is a condition in which a normally painless stimulus feels painful, such as the clothes against your skin or your brush in your hair. It’s also described as an extreme sensitivity to touch. This is common in people living with fibromyalgia or migraine disease.

Hyperalgesia

This happens when a painful stimulus, like a pinprick, causes an over-the-top pain reaction. It’s totally out of proportion to the level of the stimulus.

Hypoalgesia

The opposite of hyperalgesia, here, a normally painful stimulus produces a decreased pain response or none at all.

If the pain becomes chronic, it can lead to other problems, like insomnia: difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep because of the uncomfortable sensations.

Diabetes and neuropathic pain

The high blood sugar levels of diabetes lead to nerve damage in the peripheral parts of your body – hands and feet. This can lead both to painful sensations and to an inability to sense a painful stimulus.

If you have diabetic peripheral neuropathy, you must inspect your extremities, especially your feet, at least once a day to detect any cuts, bruises, or blisters that may have formed. Since blood flow to the extremities is also decreased, these simple wounds can easily become infected, leading to slow-healing ulcers and the potential need for amputation.

How long does neuropathic pain last?

If neuropathic pain isn’t treated appropriately, it can turn chronic, meaning it lasts more than three months and may not ever go away.

Fortunately, some treatments can help. Traditional therapies include medications such as anti-seizure drugs and antidepressants that work on neurotransmitters, chemicals in the brain that regulate nerves; spinal cord stimulation to override the pain signals being transmitted to the brain; and physical therapy.

Some people, though, don’t respond to conventional treatments or have many unpleasant side effects that prevent them from continuing.

Dr. Kullman offers ketamine infusion therapy as an alternative to conventional treatment options for people living with chronic neuropathic pain.

Unlike regular pain medications or antidepressants that target serotonin in the brain, ketamine works on the NMDA receptors and regulates the neurotransmitter glutamate; these play a role in how the brain signals pain. By blocking the glutamate receptors, ketamine can help reset how the nerves perceive pain, providing relief.

If you’re dealing with neuropathic pain, no matter what its cause, the office of Dr. Michael Kullman can help. Learn more or schedule a consultation by calling our office at 914-465-2882 or visiting our website for more options.