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Neuralgia - Overview

Alternative Names

Nerve pain

Definition of Neuralgia:

Neuralgia is pain that follows the path of a nerve.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Causes of neuralgia include:

Certain drugs
Chemical irritation
Chronic renal insufficiency
Diabetes
Infections, such as shingles, syphilis, and Lyme disease
Porphyria
Pressure on nerves by nearby structures (for instance, tumors)
Swelling and irritation (inflammation)
Trauma (including surgery)

In many cases, the cause is unknown.

Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common form of neuralgia. A related but uncommon neuralgia affects the glossopharyngeal nerve, which provides feeling to the throat.

Neuralgia is most common in elderly people, but it may occur at any age.

Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

Reviewed last on: 9/22/2008
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.

References

Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 446.

Cutrer FM, Moskowitz MA. Headaches and other head pain. In: In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 421.

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