Neuropathic pain is a debilitating form of chronic pain that results from peripheral or central nervous system damage. When the damage is peripheral in nature, it is often referred to as nerve pain, sensory peripheral neuropathy, or peripheral neuritis.
Neuropathic pain is really a disease caused by malfunctioning nerves. Types of neuropathic pain include pain that radiates down the leg or arm or follows and persists after back surgery or other procedures.
Even the lightest touch can set off a sharp or shock-like shooting pain in people with neuropathic pain, who often complain of symptoms, such as unrelenting numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning or cold sensations.
Left untreated, neuropathic pain can lead to a host of other problems, including but not limited to anxiety, insomnia, depression, and withdrawal.