neuralgia
/njuə'rældʤik/
Definition
Noun A severe, sharp, stabbing, or burning pain that follows the path of a nerve or group of nerves. It is caused by irritation or damage to the nerves, not by stimulation of pain receptors in other tissues.
Usage
"Neuralgia" is a medical term used to describe a specific type of nerve pain. It is typically a symptom of an underlying condition affecting the nervous system, rather than a disease itself. The pain is often episodic, coming in sudden attacks.
Examples
- The patient was diagnosed with neuralgia after experiencing sharp, electric-shock-like pains in her face.
- Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most common and severe forms, causing intense pain in the jaw or cheek.
- He takes medication to manage the chronic neuralgia in his leg following the surgery.
Advanced Usage
- Postherpetic neuralgia: A common complication of shingles (herpes zoster), where nerve pain persists long after the rash has healed.
- The elderly patient suffered from postherpetic neuralgia for months.
- The term is often used in a compound form with the name of the specific nerve affected (e.g., trigeminal neuralgia, occipital neuralgia). These are considered distinct medical conditions named for the nerve involved.
Variants and Related Words
- Neuralgic (adjective): Relating to or suffering from neuralgia.
- She experienced neuralgic pain.
- Neuropathy (noun): A broader term for nerve damage or dysfunction, which may cause pain (neuropathic pain), numbness, or weakness. Neuralgia is a type of neuropathic pain.
Synonyms
- Nerve pain
- Neuropathic pain (a broader category that includes neuralgia)
Notes on Meaning
"Neuralgia" specifically refers to the pain symptom itself, characterized by its sharp, paroxysmal (sudden attack) quality along a nerve's pathway. It is distinct from general aches or musculoskeletal pain.
Noun
-
acute spasmodic pain along the course of one or more nerves
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