It's time to bring the heat!
Chili Pepper heat might just be the answer to your neuropathic pain condition?! Yes, you read that right.
Tingling, burning, numbness, sharp pains, and muscle weakness are just a few of the symptoms patients with Neuropathic conditions may experience, and up until now, there have been quite limited treatment options for those who experience the various types of neuropathy. Thankfully, there is now hope for a breakthrough in treating specific types of neuropathy with an active ingredient found naturally in, you guessed it, Chili Peppers.
The new treatment, Qutenza, is a prescription medication currently used in the U.S. to treat neuropathic pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) or painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). In Europe, it can currently be used for other types of neuropathy/nerve pain conditions, but in the U.S. it is limited to treating the above two types as of now. It is a topical treatment applied to the skin to provide localized relief.
Why does Neuropathic Pain Occur?
Neuropathic pain results when your nervous system is not properly operating, and aberrant signals are sent to your brain causing the sensation of pain and overall discomfort. The type of pain felt can be described as a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation that can last months to years and significantly affect your quality of life.
How does Qutenza Work?
Qutenza works by delivering a high concentration of capsaicin, the active ingredient which is naturally found in chili peppers, directly to the affected area. The capsaicin has pain-relieving properties that temporarily deplete a specific neurotransmitter involved in sending pain signals to the brain.
Since Qutenza contains such a high concentration of the ingredient, a licensed healthcare professional will need to carefully administer the treatment. The healthcare provider will clean the affected area, and apply up to four topical patches to the area for 30-60 minutes. During this time, you may experience a burning sensation as the medication begins to work. After the treatment, the area is cleaned and should be cared for cautiously like a bad sunburn for a few days afterwards.
While Qutenza may not be a complete cure for neuropathic pain, it can offer pain relieving results of up to 3 months, and can be repeatedly used after those 3 months. The side effects are also minimal including application site redness, itching, and pain that are all temporary.
It’s exciting to see a step in the right direction in treatment options for Neuropathic pain conditions, and this could lead to more innovative treatments in the future. If you experience neuropathy from one of these mentioned conditions, consider asking your doctor about Qutenza as a treatment for you.
To learn more about Qutenza and their patient savings program, visit the site here. To request an appointment to be evaluated for neuropathic pain, visit our site at https://www.pennpain.com/request-appointment
