Drugs for Nerve Pain

Monday 21 May 2012

Nerve pain or neuropathic pain is caused by nerve damage or nerve disease. The pain is often aching, burning or shooting in nature.

* Drugs can be used to treat neuropathic pain. There are 3 types of drugs: Anti-depressants eg. amitriptyline, which were developed to treat depression, have long been used "off licence" to treat nerve pain.

* Anti-convulsants or anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) such as carbamazepine, developed to control fits in epilepsy have long been used to treat nerve pain. Newer anticonvulsants such as gabapentin and pregabalin are licensed in the UK for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

* Opioids such as tramadol are sometimes useful in some people for nerve pain.

These drugs are available on prescription and may have side-effects. Nerve pain is difficult to treat and the best result is often only 50% pain reduction. Patience is needed in trying out various drug combinations to get the best pain reduction and least side effects. These drugs often need to be taken for several years.

Arthritis is inflammation of one, or usually several, joints. There are many different types. The most common is osteoarthritis, which is caused by damage or wear and tear, affecting the smooth, shiny cartilage that covers the end of the bones where they come into contact.

The affected joints become stiff and painful, and in time the bone around them becomes roughened and knobbly. This happens to some extent to all of us, but in a small minority the osteoarthritis becomes severe and crippling.

Knobbly fingers and knees are almost universal in people after middle age, and osteoarthritis can also affect the hips, big toes, the neck and the lower back. Sometimes it develops in joints damaged by repeated small injuries - in footballers' knees for example.

Osteoarthritis is a slow disease - unlike some other forms of arthritis which may progress rapidly in young adults.

If you have one or more joints that have gradually become stiffer and more uncomfortable over a period of years, the most likely cause is osteoarthritis. If you think you may have it, you should see a doctor to check the diagnosis. But there is also plenty you can do to help yourself.