Neuropathic pain — or nerve pain — ranges from straightforward to highly complex depending on the patient and presentation. This episode walks through the treatment landscape from first-line medications to more advanced options, including:

• Topical agents for focal pain
• Less invasive procedural interventions
• Neuromodulation (spinal cord stimulators)
• Intrathecal therapies
• Low-dose opioids

The goal is to help patients understand their options and advocate for themselves, while equipping providers with a structured approach to individualized treatment decisions.

Resources:

www.iniyh.com

https://www.instagram.com/iniyhpodcast/

https://www.resilientwarriorcoachingllc.com/

https://www.drdanbates.com.au/

Timestamps:

00:00 Official Intro

00:17 Intro - Diagnosing & Treating Neuropathic Pain

03:32 What causes neuropathic pain?

04:28 Other causes

05:47 We miss diagnose it because we don't ask

07:05 Difference of Nociceptive pain vs Neuropathic pain presentations

10:51 The Emotional Component

15:24 Treating different types of Neuropathic Pain

18:45 First Line Medications

26:02 Side effects vs benefits

27:06 Topical Medications

29:39 Interventional Options

32:08 Neuromodulation

35:28 Trial Period

37:43 Intrathecal Therapies & Low dose Opioids

41:26 Rate at which we move through therapies

44:56 Making decisions based on ALL the other factors

46:05 Unique challenges from a patient perspective

52:10 Technological Limitations

55:55 Wrap Up & Takeaway

59:20 Disclaimer