Chronic pain and illness are often interconnected. In fact, research suggests that chronic pain and mental and physical health problems can contribute to and exacerbate each other.

If you are struggling with both nerve pain and chronic illness, you may be wondering how the two conditions are connected and what you can do to make things better. It’s difficult to live with chronic illness or nerve pain on its own, let alone combined.

Let’s explore the connection between nerve pain and chronic illness so that you can better understand your symptoms and your solutions.

Nerve Pain and Chronic Illnesses Defined

Nerve pain is a type of pain caused by damage or dysfunction to the nervous system. This type of pain is often described as burning, shooting or tingling, and can be intermittent or constant. Nerve pain can be caused by a number of different factors, such as infection, injury and chronic illness.

Chronic illnesses are long-term medical conditions that can also interfere with your daily life. These conditions can be caused by different factors, including genetics, environmental factors and lifestyle choices. Some of the most common chronic illnesses include heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.

How are Nerve Pain and Chronic Illness Related?

Nerve pain is a common symptom experienced by people with chronic illnesses. The nerve pain may be caused by the illness itself, or it may be caused by a medication taken to treat the illness.

For example, people with diabetes may experience nerve pain as a result of high blood sugar levels, and this can damage the nerves over time. The best way to minimize nerve damage is by managing blood sugar levels, eating a balanced diet, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.

Another reason that nerve pain and chronic illness are interconnected is because of inflammation. When the body is fighting an illness, even the common cold or flu, it releases chemicals that can cause inflammation and damage to the nerves. This can lead to nerve pain, even if the condition itself is not directly to blame.

Managing Nerve Pain in Chronic Illness

When you have a chronic illness like fibromyalgia or diabetes, it’s important to manage your symptoms to protect your body from further damage. However, nerve pain can be tricky to treat. It doesn’t respond as well to medications and therapies as other types of pain, so it may take longer to find a regimen that works for you.

Some of the best ways to manage nerve pain are:

• Over-the-counter medications
• Prescription medications
• Topical treatments
• Physical therapy
• Steroid injections
• Stem cell injections
• Platelet rich plasma therapy
• Nerve blocks
• Acupuncture
• Lifestyle changes
• Stress management techniques

Get Relief from Your Nerve Pain – and Live Better!

Jersey Rehab is a pain management center that specializes in nerve pain. We offer a number of therapies that can help you achieve a more comfortable, pain-free lifestyle, including stem cell injections and PRP injections. We look forward to meeting you in person and helping you live your best life – even with chronic illness and nerve pain. Contact our pain management specialists today for an appointment.