Neuropathic pain is usually associated with tissue injury, and accompanied by complex and chronic pain. The effects of neuropathic pain might include the damage, injury or dysfunctionality of the nerve fiber themselves. Thus it causes them to send incorrect signals to other pain centers, which might cause a change in nerve function at the injury site or the areas surrounding it.

Phantom limb syndrome is one of the examples of neuropathic pain, where a leg or an arm has been removed due to illness or injury. However, the brain still receives pain impulses from the nerves that carry the signals from the missing limbs. This causes pain due to the misfiring impulses by the nerves.

There are no common causes for neuropathic pain, but some of the common causes include alcoholism, back, leg and hip problems, amputation, chemotherapy, facial nerve problems, diabetes, HIV infection or AIDS, multiple sclerosis, spine surgery and shingles. The symptoms of neuropathic pain include tingling, numbness, shooting and burning pain.

Some of the neuropathic pain studies show that the use of non steroidal inflammatory drug such as Motrin or Aleve can reduce the pain. Stronger painkiller such as the ones containing morphine seems to have an effect on the patient in reducing the pain.