neuralgia

(nu-ral’je-ah) [Gr. vedpov nerve + ἄλγος pain]. Pain in a nerve or in nerves, or radiating along the course of a nerve; a name applied to pain, which may result from any one or more of a great variety of morbid conditions. Neuralgic pain is of a severe darting or throbbing character, intermittent, and is attended by sensitivene of the skin and by the presence of tender points (punc’la doloro’sa) where the cutaneous branches of the nerve are given off from the deeper parts. Many varieties of neuralgia are distinguished according to the part affected or to the cause, as bronchial, facial, occipital, supraorbital, etc., and anemic, diabetic, gouty, malarial, syphilitic, etc. cardiac n., angina pectoris. degenerative n., that which occurs in persons of advanced age, and is marked by signs of degen- τ eration in the central nervous system. epileptiform n., tic douloureux. hallucinatory n., a mental impre ion of pain without any actual peripheral pain. idiopathic n., neuralgia that is not accompanied by any structural change. intercostal n., neuralgia of the intercostal nerves causing pain in the side. mammary n., neuralgic pain in the breast. Morton’s n., neuralgia in the me tatar so phalangeal joint of the third and fourth toes. It is caused by slight dislocation producing pre ure on the digital branch of the external plantar nerve. red n., erythromelalgia. reminiscent n., a mental impre ion of neuralgic pain persisting after the actual pain has ceased. sciatic n., sciatica. stump-n., neuralgia in the seat of an amputation. supra-orbital n., neuralgia of the supra-orbital nerve. matic n., neuralgia in which there is slight structural change.