Neuropathic pain can make movement painful, which leads patients to start to limit their mobility. And, being sedentary can cause muscles to weaken. This then further restricts any physical functioning. And, eventually, many people with neuropathy and/or a neuropathic pain disorder find themselves unable to work, to socialize or to move through daily life as they once did.

Changes in color are usually related to changes in circulation/blood flow. many individuals also experience swelling.

Patients with neuropathic pain may also experience physical sensations in unusual ways, such as:

• Hypersensitivity to light touch: Something barely noticeable to others but is known as allodynia. The feeling of clothing against the skin, for instance, could trigger a pain reaction.

• Hyperalgesia: This is an extreme sensitivity to something, like a paper cut or shot from an inoculation or blood draw, that is only slightly painful to others.

• Hypoesthesia: This is an unusually low sensation tolerance to hot or cold.

• Paresthesia: Recognized as an electric-shock or a pins-and-needles feeling, even when there is no physical contact.

Sometimes it is helpful to conduct sensory tests to see exactly how much, and in what way, the individual responds to different types of physical contact.

Other tests include electromyography and nerve conduction studies, blood tests, and diagnostic tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These may be used to determine the cause—or rule out a potential cause. Test results can be helpful in finding the most effective therapy and treatments.

Some cases are more straightforward than others. But, if no underlying cause of a patient’s pain is found, treatment typically emphasizes pain relief. And, unfortunately, there is no single medication that eliminates the symptoms of neuropathy and/or neuropathic pain. But a combination of medications and treatments can be helpful.

Patients with neuropathic pain can also experience sleep difficulties and depression, both of which can increase the perceived amount of pain. Therefore, a multifaceted pain management approach is always the best way to address all aspects of a patient’s health.