Nerve Pain
NERVE PAIN PHYSICIAN IN CHARLESTON, SC
Nerve pain occurs when a condition or disorder affects the nerves that communicate sensations to your brain. Also called neuropathic pain or neuralgia, nerve pain presents itself as sharp or burning pain following the path of a nerve.
It’s most commonly felt in the feet and the legs, but it can occur anywhere there are nerves in your body.
Nerve pain can be mild or severe, become chronic, or come and go. Some diseases can cause nerve pain, such as diabetes, shingles, and central nervous system disorders. Those who suffer from neuropathic pain might benefit from a combination of treatments, including physical therapy, psychological counseling, medication, and/or surgery.
At our pain management clinic, our experienced team approaches your pain through a personalized treatment plan that best meets your individual needs.
Our pain management physicians focus on collaborating with you and your healthcare team, so you can get the care you deserve.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
- Allodynia: Extreme touch sensitivity. Typically experience pain from cold temperatures, pressure, or brushing against the skin.
- Bladder dysfunction: Difficulty or issues concerning bladder control
- Burning pain: Sensation of burning with no known cause
- Constipation: Difficulty with regular bowel movements
- Dry eyes and mouth: Dryness or lack of moisture in the eyes and mouth
- Dysesthesia: Abnormal, unexpected, unpleasant, burning, or painful touch sensations
- Electric shock-like pain: Sudden, shock-like pain with no known cause
- Fasciculation: Muscle twitching
- Hyperalgesia: Increased sensitivity to pain and an extreme response to pain
- Hyperhidrosis: Excessive sweating
- Hypoalgesia: Decreased pain sensitivity to painful stimuli
- Inability to sense chest pain: Lack of awareness of chest pain, such as angina or heart attack pain
- Insomnia: Difficulty sleeping
- Lightheadedness: Feeling faint or dizzy
- Muscle atrophy: Decrease in muscle size and wasting of muscle tissue
- Numbness: Loss of feeling or sensation
- Paralysis: Loss of ability to move
- Pins and needles: Tingling sensation without a known cause
- Sexual dysfunction: Issues or difficulty with sexual function
- Spontaneous pain: Pain without a known reason, such as burning, stabbing, electric shock-like pain, tingling, or numbness
- Tingling: A prickling sensation
- Too little sweating (anhidrosis): Experiencing little to no sweating
- Weakness: Reduced muscle strength
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
If you’re experiencing pain, weakness, or numbness that is recurring, schedule an appointment with your doctor. If the pain becomes severe, or the pain, numbness, and/or weakness is quickly getting worse, go to your nearest emergency room.
These symptoms, as well as fast or irregular heartbeat, changes in bathroom habits, dizziness, or fainting, can indicate nerve damage.
For mild pain, our pain management physicians at Pain Specialists of Charleston can help. They will evaluate your medical history and current physical state through an exam. If nerve damage is suspected, our team will recognize your neuropathic pain symptoms and work with you to determine the root cause.
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CAUSES
- Alcoholism
- Amputation, known to cause phantom limb pain
- Central nervous system disorders, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin, paclitaxel, vincristine)
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Diabetes
- Facial nerve conditions
- HIV/AIDS
- Radiation therapy
- Shingles
- Inflammation or compression of spinal nerves
- Nerve damage caused by trauma or surgery
- Pressure on nerves from tumors
DIAGNOSIS
- Physical Exam: At Pain Specialists of Charleston, your first visit will include a thorough evaluation that includes your medical history and a physical examination pertinent to your pain problem. This comprehensive visit with your pain specialist will last approximately 30 minutes.
TREATMENT
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, our board-certified team offers pain management treatment in the form of:
- Injections
- Injured Nerve Block
- Radiofrequency Ablation (Rhizotomy)
- Discography
- Neurostimulation, also known as Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Medical Massage Therapy
- Clinical Trials
- …and MORE!
MEET DOCTOR EDWARD M. TAVEL, JR., MD
- Over 20+ Years of Specialty Training
- Double-Board Certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management
AWARDS & ASSOCIATIONS
AS SEEN ON
CONDITIONS WE MANAGE
- Knee Pain
- Chest Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Back Pain
- Hip Pain
- Neck Pain
- & More
TREATMENTS WE OFFER
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Massage
- Meditation
- & More
WHY CHOOSE US
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, we strive to provide an unmatched healthcare experience – one focused on finding relief. With this goal guiding our pain management physicians, we prioritize the following:
Compassionate and Comprehensive Care
Our practice takes a multidisciplinary approach to pain care that puts patients first. We’re proud to offer a full range of pain management procedures and treatments, including physical therapy, medical massage therapy, pain psychology, medication management, and more.
Timely Treatment
Because many of our patients suffer from severe pain, we’re committed to scheduling appointments as quickly as possible. This ensures the speedy start of a treatment plan to relieve and/or manage their pain.
Access to Safe Pain Management
Pain Specialists of Charleston offers a higher level of healthcare, performing all interventional procedures to meet strict, sterile standards and rigorously comply with all FDA, CDC, state, and federal medical safety guidelines.
Quality Care
Our providers are not only prominent leaders in the field of pain management, but advocates for the Charleston, SC patients we so proudly serve. It’s our exceptional care that sets us apart and earns our patients’ trust.
FAQs
HOW DOES NERVE PAIN FEEL?
Nerve pain is felt differently by different people, as it can cause a variety of sensations. Some people experience stabbing pain, while others report feelings of prickling, tingling, or burning. Symptoms can occur at certain times of day for some, or all day long for others. Chronic nerve pain is difficult to bear, so contact your pain management physician for treatment.
WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON NERVE PAIN?
There are many types of nerve pain. Most commonly, nerve pain is felt in the feet and legs with peripheral neuropathy. There are more than 100 different types of peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, diabetes-related neuropathy makes up about 30% of all nerve pain cases.
HOW CAN I PREVENT NERVE PAIN?
Nerve pain isn’t always preventable, but there are some things you can do to help reduce your overall risk:
- Quit smoking
- Maintain a regular exercise routine that works for you
- Eat fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins
- Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages
- If you have diabetes, closely monitor your blood sugar and take extra care of your feet
WHAT NERVES IN THE BODY ARE OFTEN INFLICTED WITH PAIN?
Your nervous system plays a part in everything your body does, so any of your nerves can become damaged or cause nerve pain.
Your body is comprised of three types of nerves:
- Autonomic nerves: Control involuntary and partially involuntary activities, including heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature regulation.
- Motor nerves: Control movements by sending information from your brain and spinal cord to the muscles.
- Sensory nerves: Send information from your skin and muscles to your spinal cord and brain allowing you to feel pain and other sensations.
Your nerves are essential to everything your body does, so nerve pain and damage can have a major impact on your life.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT AT PAIN SPECIALISTS OF CHARLESTON?
Our focus is getting to the source of your pain and helping you become pain-free once again. At Pain Specialists of Charleston, we will perform a thorough evaluation to understand the root cause of your pain, then we’ll figure out the best course of action for you to reclaim your quality of life. What Should I Bring?
ARE YOU ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS?
Yes, our pain management center is open to new patients. Call us today or request an appointment online now!
DOES PAIN SPECIALISTS OF CHARLESTON REQUIRE A REFERRAL?
No, we don’t! We accept self-made appointments and referral appointments to start treatment. Just reach out to us five days a week to get you scheduled for an appointment. No referral needed! Schedule your first appointment today! BOOK NOW
DOES PAIN SPECIALISTS OF CHARLESTON OFFER SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS?
Yes, Pain Specialists of Charleston does offer same-day appointments! We’re open five days a week, so we can get you in to see one of our board-certified pain doctors within the same day if appointments are available. Reach out to us today to see our availability!
HOW LONG IS A PAIN MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENT?
Your comprehensive visit with your pain specialist will last approximately 30 minutes. After assessing your condition, we may recommend a combination of procedures and/or therapies to help you get back to feeling like yourself. What else should new patients expect?