Terri Ramsey Beavers Neuropathic pain is a condition where you experience random, burning pain that doesn’t come from an injury or event. Around one-fifth of Americans experience it at some point, although it usually dissipates after some time. But what if it doesn’t?
As nerve pain can worsen with time, it’s important to seek treatment for it as soon as possible. Once you’re with your doctor, you’ll need to ask the right questions so that you can learn how to manage pain. So what should you ask?
Keep reading to learn about six questions to ask your pain management doctor about nerve pain.
1. Are You Certain It’s Nerve Pain?
The first thing you want to be certain of is that the issue you’re dealing with is nerve pain. Your doctor will help you know by asking you about what the pain is like.
Nerve pain is often a shooting or burning sensation. While your nerves send pain signals to your brain when your muscles or bones are sore, neuropathic pain occurs when the nerves themselves are damaged.
2. Can You Identify the Cause?
To identify the cause, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, then test for sensory loss and other irregularities.
For example, they may prick different parts of your body. If you can’t feel the sensations, it may be a sign that neuropathy is present. Discover more about nerve pain causes here.
3. Could It Be Diabetes?
As your doctor will explain, many patients who have neuropathy also suffer from diabetes. Blood sugar levels that are too high can damage your nerves, preventing them from functioning as they should.
If you suspect that you may have diabetes, your doctor will be able to run additional tests to find out.
4. Do I Need to Visit a Neurologist?
Most of the time, meeting with your primary care physician for an initial appointment should be fine. They’ll check for common causes of neuropathy through blood work and other tests.
If the tests come back and look normal, they may recommend visiting a neurologist to get to the bottom of things.
5. What Should I Do if the Pain Doesn’t Dissipate?
While your doctor might be able to recognize nerve pain symptoms, figuring out the causes might be more difficult. This can make treating it tricky.
If you continue to experience pain after various appointments, your doctor may recommend that you see a neurologist every few months until the pain goes away.
Schedule an Appointment to Alleviate Your Nerve Pain Today
If you are experiencing nerve pain, don’t put off seeing a doctor. They’ll be able to work with you, check your symptoms, and work with you to get to the bottom of it. They’ll also fill you in on the different nerve pain solutions, ensuring that you feel better as soon as possible.
Do you have a better understanding of some of the questions you can ask a pain management doctor? If you do, make sure to check out some of our other articles for more guides and tips on how to live your healthiest life.