Neuropathic pain occurs because of damage to nerves – cells that send signals to and from the spinal cord and brain.¹

There are many possible causes of neuropathic pain. In the hands/feet, limbs and body, nerve damage can be caused by injury, surgery, diabetes, poison, infection, or cancer. ^1,2 In the spinal cord and brain, nerve damage may arise due to injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. ^1,2

Neuropathic pain occurs because of damage to nerves – cells that send signals to and from the spinal cord and brain.¹

There are many possible causes of neuropathic pain. In the hands/feet, limbs and body, nerve damage can be caused by injury, surgery, diabetes, poison, infection, or cancer.^1,2 In the spinal cord and brain, nerve damage may arise due to injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.^1,2

Worldwide, 7–10% of people are thought to have neuropathic pain, many of whom have been in pain for more than 5 years.^4,5

Not all people with nerve damage develop neuropathic pain, although the likelihood increases among people with certain conditions.² For example, neuropathic pain may affect up to a third of people with early-stage breast cancer,⁶ and half of people with a spinal cord injury.⁷ Around a quarter to a half of people with diabetes have nerve damage, which can result in neuropathic pain.⁸ Neuropathic pain is likely to become even more common in the future, due to the ageing global population and increasing rates of diabetes and cancer.²

Neuropathic pain adds a greater burden to already burdensome conditions. In one survey, 17% of people described their chronic neuropathic pain as ‘worse than death’.⁹ The pain is associated with anxiety, depression, disturbed sleep, and impaired thinking, which can affect a person’s quality of life.² A global survey by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that people with a chronic pain condition miss an average of 14 additional days of work or activities per year, compared with people without such a condition.¹⁰

Neuropathic pain is identified using medical history, examinations, and pain questionnaires.^2,11 It is important that the correct type of pain is identified, because different types of pain should be treated differently.¹²

While it is important to treat the cause of neuropathic pain, it is usually not possible to repair the damaged nerves.^1,2 The aim of treatment is therefore to manage the pain, which normally involves medication.²