HOMEOPATHY FOR NEURALGIA OR NERVE PAIN

Neuralgia is a stabbing, burning, and often severe pain due to an irritated or damaged nerve. The nerve may be anywhere in the body, and the damage may be caused by several things, including:

·         aging

·         diseases such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis

·         an infection, such as shingles

Treatment for the pain of neuralgia depends on the cause.

Types of neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia

This type of neuralgia occurs as a complication of shingles and may be anywhere on the body. Shingles   is a viral infection characterized by a painful rash and blisters. Neuralgia can occur wherever the outbreak of shingles was. The pain can be mild or severe and persistent or intermittent. It can also last for months or years. In some cases, the pain may occur before the rash. It will always occur along the path of a nerve, so it’s usually isolated to one side of the body.

Trigeminal neuralgia

This type of neuralgia is associated with pain from the trigeminal nerve, which travels from the brain and branches to different parts of the face. The pain can be caused by a blood vessel pressing down on the nerve where it meets with the brainstem. It can also be caused by multiple sclerosis, injury to the nerve, or other causes.

Trigeminal neuralgia causes severe, recurrent pain in the face, usually on one side. It’s most common in people who are older than 50 years.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Pain from the glossopharyngeal nerve, which is in the throat, is not very common. This type of neuralgia produces pain in the neck and throat.

Causes

The cause of some types of nerve pain is not completely understood. You may feel nerve pain from damage or injury to a nerve, pressure on a nerve, or changes in the way the nerves function. The cause may also be unknown.

Infection

An infection can affect your nerves. For example, the cause of postherpetic neuralgia is shingles, an infection caused by the chickenpox   virus. The likelihood of having this infection increases with age. An infection in a specific part of the body may also affect a nearby nerve. For example, if you have an infection in a tooth, it may affect the nerve and cause pain.

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease caused by the deterioration of myelin, the covering of nerves. Trigeminal neuralgia may occur in someone with MS.

Pressure on nerves

Pressure or compression of nerves may cause neuralgia. The pressure may come from a:

·         bone

·         ligament

·         blood vessel

·         tumour

The pressure of a swollen blood vessel is a common cause of trigeminal neuralgia.

Diabetes

Many people with diabetes   have problems with their nerves, including neuralgia. The excess glucose in the bloodstream may damage nerves. This damage is most common in the hands, arms, feet, and legs.

Less common causes

If the cause of neuralgia isn’t infection, MS, diabetes, or pressure on the nerves, it may be from one of many less-common factors. These include:

·         chronic kidney disease

·         medications prescribed for cancer

·         fluoroquinolone antibiotics, used to treat some infections

·         trauma, such as from surgery

·         chemical irritation

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a growing system and is being practiced all over the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When neuralgia is concerned there are many effective medicines are available in Homoeopathy, but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering the mental and physical symptoms.

ACONITUM NAPELLUS

Aconitum napellus is an excellent remedy for trigeminal neuralgia. Aconite is prescribed where the pain may come on after exposure to or may be worsened by dry cold winds. Here the pain appears suddenly and are worse on left side. Another marked feature is restlessness and an anxious look is present on face. Here the pains are intense and are accompanied by anguish.

ARSENICUM ALBUM

Arsenicum alb is another effective remedy for trigeminal neuralgia. Arsenic is prescribed where the pains feel drawing or burning in nature as if from needles. The person is anxious, restless and thirsty. Pains are ameliorated by warm applications and are aggravated by cold air, also worse after midnight.

COLOCYNTHIS

Colocynth is effective for sciatic nerve pain. Dull, stitching, shooting pain, like lighting shocks, in the hip which comes suddenly and shoot down to the posterior part of the thigh or to knee or foot, especially left side.  Pain is relieved by heat and hard pressure but worse from touch or motions.

MAGNESIUM PHOSPHORICA

Magnesium phos is one of the best remedies for nerve pain. Neuralgic pain relieved by warmth is the leading symptom of the remedy. The pains are unbearable, shooting, cutting, stitching in nature, shifting, better by rest, worse at night. The parts were tender to to pressure and numb. Pains sometimes tense in paroxysms, compelling her to cry out.

HYPERICUM PERFORATUM

Excessive painfulness is a guiding symptom of Hypericum. Hypericum is an effective remedy for nerve pain with tingling, burning and numbness. Hypericum is an effective remedy for nerve pain after injury to nerves, especially fingers, toes, nails. Shooting pains from the injured part. Injury to brain and spinal cord. Back pain due spinal injury.  It is best for traumatic neuralgia and neuritis.

KALMIA LATIFOLIA

Kalmia is prescribed when numbness along with nerve pain occurs.  Neuralgic pains, shoot downwards with numbness is characteristic to Kalmia. Pains affects a large part of of a limb or several joints and pass through quickly. Pains along the ulnar nerve, goes into third or fourth fingers. Left side is mostly affected.

CHAMOMILLA

Chamomilla is prescribed where unbearable pain is experienced associated with numbness. Chamomilla person is irritable and sensitive. Irritability is accompanied by violent anger. The patient feels pain more than it is in actual. Pain worse on touch.

BELLADONNA

Belladonna is prescribed for pinched nerve with severe nerve pain, which comes and goes suddenly. Pains are throbbing, sharp, cutting, shooting or clawing of maddening severity , coming and going in repeated attacks. Nerve pain is accompanied by bright redness and heat in the body. Pains are aggravated by touch or noise.

GNAPHALIUM

Gnaphalium is best for sciatic pain, sciatica when numbness associated with pain. Numbness alternates with sciatic pain. There is intense pain in the nerve accompanied by cramps or alternating with numbness. The pain is worse from lying and walking and better from sitting. Pain in calf and feet.

PUSATILLA NIGRICANS

Pulsatilla is excellent for facial neuralgia, especially of right side, with a drawing or tearing sensation. They are worse from chewing, warmth and lying on painful side. The mouth feels dry, but the person does not drink. Pains are better from cold applications and open air.

SPIGELIA

Spigelia is one of the most effective medicines for facial neuralgia when pain is affected on left side. There is lightening like pains come on from morning until sunset. The pain is extending to left eye, left chest, and left shoulder. Pains are worse from stooping or moving the head, from noise, during perspiration, from cold water and air and after chewing. The person has a flushed red face on the affected side and pains come on at certain times of day.

VERBASCUM

Verbascum is best for facial neuralgia of left side with a pinching sensation as if the parts were being crushed by tongs. Pains brought on by clenching teeth, change of temperature, pressure, open air and motion. The pain may extent to the chin and lower jaw.