Nerve Pain, and Why Does It Burn: How It Works, Explained Simply

Video Transcript

Nerve pain, or neuropathic pain, feels different from an ordinary ache, because the problem is the nerve itself. Normally, a nerve only fires when there is something to feel. With nerve pain, the nerve is damaged or diseased, and it fires on its own. Unstable, damaged fibers send pain signals when nothing is wrong, and the spinal cord turns the volume up on them. That is why the sensations are so distinctive: burning, electric shocks, pins and needles, or numbness in the very area that hurts. It can even make gentle touch painful, so a bedsheet or a light breeze feels sharp. This is called allodynia. Because the wiring itself is misfiring, ordinary painkillers, and even opioids, often don't help very much. Instead, medicines that calm overactive nerves, certain nerve-pain tablets and some antidepressants, tend to work better. The realistic goal is usually to turn the pain down to a manageable level, rather than to erase it completely. See a doctor promptly for numbness or weakness that comes on suddenly, spreads quickly, or affects both sides. And get emergency care for saddle numbness with loss of bladder or bowel control. This video is for general education only. It is not medical advice. Ask your doctor what's right for you.