Pain Management

• To reduce neuropathic pain, doctors first try NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These include over-the-counter drugs like Motrin or Advil. For individuals whose pain ranks moderate to severe, doctors will prescribe a stronger painkiller like Vicodin or morphine. Unfortunately, neuropathic pain can also cause much distress and anxiety, which only aggravates the condition more.
  
  

Antidepressants

• Antidepressants have been used for years to treat neuropathic pain with promising results. It is well known in the medical field that chronic pain causes depression, anxiety and reduces the quality of life. Pain and emotion have been linked in many studies. Researchers have found that using antidepressants that are proven effective in treating anxiety are also successful in reducing neuropathic pain. Some brand name tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs used for the treatment of neuropathic pain include, but are not limited to, amitriptyline (sold as Elavil) or paroxetine (sold as Paxil).
  
  

Implantable Device Therapies

• An implantable device targets and provides electrical stimulation directly to the nerves involved with a patient's neuropathic pain. Studies of these devices published in the Journal of the International Neuromodulation Society have shown that pain symptoms can be reduced anywhere from 60 to 80 percent in some patients. Only individuals who do not respond to less invasive treatment options resort to this surgical procedure.