Re: Can Someone Answer This....

[Guest guest]

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Neuropathy is defined as nerve damage. Neuralgia is defined as nerve

pain. Neuropathy can cause you to have neuralgia.

I hope you have no neuralgia today.

Mitch-- In Hugs-N-Pain , ScarletCatnRuby2@... wrote:

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> What is the difference between NEUROPATHY AND NEURALGIA?

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> Steph in Boston

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/2006 12:30:41 P.M. US Eastern Standard Time,

MEVANS1@... writes:

NEUROPATHY AND NEURALGIA?

neuropathy is a general term referring to disorders of peripheral nerves.

The peripheral nervous system is made up of the nerves that branch out of the

spinal cord to all parts of the body.

Peripheral nerve cells have three main parts: cell body, axons, and

dendrites. Any part of the nerve can be affected, but damage to axons is most

common.

The axon transmits signals from nerve cell to nerve cell. Most axons are

surrounded by a substance called myelin, which facilitates signal transmission.

Types

Peripheral neuropathy can be broadly categorized by the type of nerve that

has been damaged. The peripheral nervous system is made up of three types of

nerves:

* motor nerves (responsible for voluntary movement)

* sensory nerves (responsible for sensing temperature, pain, touch, and

limb positioning)

* autonomic nerves (responsible for involuntary functions such as

breathing, blood pressure, sexual function, digestion)

Peripheral neuropathy also can be classified by where it occurs in the body.

Nerve damage that occurs in one area of the body is called mononeuropathy,

in many areas, polyneuropathy. When the disorder occurs in the same places on

both sides of the body, the condition is called symmetric neuropathy.

It also can be categorized by cause, such as diabetic neuropathy and

nutritional neuropathy. When a cause cannot be identified, the condition is

called

idiopathic neuropathy.

NEURALGIA

Neuralgia is pain in a nerve pathway. Generally, neuralgia isn't an illness

in its own right, but a symptom of injury or a particular disorder. In many

cases, the cause of the pain is not known. Older people are most susceptible,

but people of any age can be affected.

Almost everyone will experience mild neuralgia at some point, but these

bouts are usually temporary and tend to ease by themselves within a few days.

Some types of neuralgia are longer lasting, debilitating and so agonising that

a

person's quality of life is severely reduced. Trigeminal neuralgia, a

condition that usually affects one side of the face only, is said to be one of

the

most painful medical conditions. Neuralgia can be managed with medications

and physical therapy. Surgery is an option in some resistant cases.