What is somatic disorder?

What is somatic disorder?

Somatic symptom disorder involves a person having a significant focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness or shortness of breath, that results in major distress and/or problems functioning. The individual has excessive thoughts, feelings and behaviors relating to the physical symptoms.

What are the signs of somatic pain?

Somatic symptom disorder symptoms include:

• Pain.
• Neurological symptoms such as headaches, movement disorders, weakness, dizziness, fainting.
• Digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain or bowel problems, diarrhea, incontinence, and constipation.
• Sexual symptoms such as pain during sexual activity or painful periods.

What is the best medication for nerve pain?

The main medicines recommended for neuropathic pain include:

• amitriptyline – also used for treatment of headaches and depression.
• duloxetine – also used for treatment of bladder problems and depression.
• pregabalin and gabapentin – also used to treat epilepsy, headaches or anxiety.

How does nerve pain feel?

Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can be as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. People with neuropathic pain are often very sensitive to touch or cold and can experience pain as a result of stimuli that would not normally be painful, such as brushing the skin.

Does an MRI scan show nerve damage?

MRI is sensitive to changes in cartilage and bone structure resulting from injury, disease, or aging. It can detect herniated discs, pinched nerves, spinal tumors, spinal cord compression, and fractures.

What test shows nerve damage?

A nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test — also called a nerve conduction study (NCS) — measures how fast an electrical impulse moves through your nerve. NCV can identify nerve damage. During the test, your nerve is stimulated, usually with electrode patches attached to your skin.

Is nerve damage permanent?

When a medical condition can be found and treated, your outlook may be excellent. But sometimes, nerve damage can be permanent, even if the cause is treated. Long-term (chronic) pain can be a major problem for some people. Numbness in the feet can lead to skin sores that do not heal.

What type of doctor treats nerve damage?

A neurologist is a specialist who treats diseases in the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system), peripheral nerves (nerves connecting the brain and spine to the organs, like the lungs or liver), and muscles.