An intricate web of sensory nerve fibers all over the body picks up information and sensations and sends it to the brain. When you suffer a burn, the nerves send a signal to your brain that causes you to feel pain. However, some patients suffer nerve damage from a burn injury, which can cause long-term complications, including chronic neuropathic pain and disability.
What effects might nerve damage have for burn patients?
If the burn injury just disrupted or partially damaged the nerves, symptoms usually consist of pain, burning, numbness, tingling, and weakness. It can also cause sensitivity to touch.
However, if someone suffered major burns but does not feel pain, then it is a sign that the injury may have seriously damaged the nerves. In third-degree and fourth-degree burns that severely damage or completely destroy nerve endings, the patient may not experience any pain at all. He may actually feel more pain around the burned area than at the site of the burn.
One of the most common types of pain burn injury patients suffer from is neuropathic pain, which usually entails shooting and burning pain. Some patients describe it as having an “electric” quality about it. Direct damage to the nerves or the regeneration of nerves around the burn wound is usually a cause of the pain.
“With neuropathic pain, the nerve fibers themselves may be damaged, dysfunctional, or injured. These damaged nerve fibers send incorrect signals to other pain centers,” explains the Cleveland Clinic.
What types of treatments work for nerve damage pain?
If you or your loved one sustained nerve damage in a burn accident and you are suffering from pain, tell your doctor in detail about what you are experiencing so she can prescribe at a good treatment plan to help you manage your pain. Treating nerve pain early reduces the risk of greater and permanent damage to the nerves.
Several viable treatments may minimize the pain associated with nerve damage after a burn injury, such as:
- Pain medication (both prescription and over-the-counter)
- Anti-inflammatories
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Anticonvulsant and antidepressant drugs
- Relaxation methods such as breathing exercises, mediation, and yoga
- Physical therapy and massage therapy
Are there other notable effects of nerve pain?
Deep, constant, and chronic pain has a way of affecting burn victims’ psyches. It can cause emotional and psychological issues, including depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal tendencies. If you are suffering from nerve pain, be proactive and seek counseling and mental health treatments to help you cope with your symptoms, the trauma of the accident, and the emotional ramifications of your injuries and scarring.
While many treatments are very effective in burn care, some patients with nerve damage and severe burn injuries become permanently disabled. Look into your legal options to see if you are eligible for compensation after your accident. If another party was responsible for your accident, you may recover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our lawyer referral specialists can connect you with a lawyer in your area who can answer your questions and help you file a claim for compensation. Call 844-549-8774.