Neuralgia Specialist

Johnston Pain Management, P.A.

Pain Management located in Jacksonville, NC & New Bern, NC

Neuralgia, or nerve pain along a specific pathway, causes localized pain that can be severe and linger for months. At Johnston Pain Management, P.A., in Jacksonville, New Bern, and Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, board-certified pain management experts identify the cause of your neuralgia and create a treatment plan to reduce associated pain. To schedule a consultation, call Johnston Pain Management, P.A., or book an appointment online today.

Neuralgia Q & A

What is neuralgia?

Neuralgia is a term for nerve pain in a specific nerve pathway. Rather than being a disorder of its own, it’s a symptom of many other disorders and conditions. It can occur in various areas of the body, depending on the exact cause.

Typically, neuralgia comes with a variety of symptoms and sensations like:

Localized pain
Burning
Muscle spasms
Touch-sensitivity

In most cases, the body part with neuralgia still maintains function and mobility. The pain can be sharp or burning depending on the nerve type experiencing neuralgia.

What causes neuralgia?

Neuralgia has multiple different causes and can affect various nerve pathways. Some kinds of neuralgia are more prevalent than others, such as these three common types:

Post-herpetic neuralgia

Post-herpetic neuralgia is a common complication of shingles, affecting nerve fibers in your skin. Even after your shingles rash disappears, you experience lingering burning on the skin, which improves with time.

Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common type and affects the trigeminal nerve, which branches off into multiple areas of the face. Typically, nerve pain from trigeminal neuralgia affects only one side.

Occipital neuralgia

Occipital neuralgia is nerve pain that originates at the base of the back of the skull. The pain feels like a dull throbbing ache on the back of the head and possibly the forehead.

How can I manage my neuralgia?

The team at Johnston Pain Management, P.A., helps you set realistic treatment goals during your initial visit. After diagnosing your neuralgia, they can create a treatment plan based on the type and severity.

A comprehensive treatment plan for neuralgia usually does not involve surgery but can include:

Capsaicin skin patches
Pain-relieving medications
Physical therapy
Anticonvulsant medications
Antidepressants

If there is a distinct underlying cause to your neuralgia, such as a bone spur placing pressure on a nerve root, addressing the cause can relieve your symptoms too. The team at Johnston Pain Management, P.A., schedules regular follow-up visits for you so they can track your improvements with treatment.

To schedule an evaluation and treatment consultation for your neuralgia, call Johnston Pain Management, P.A., or book online today.

What we offer