Duration of nerve root inflammation | Nerve root inflammation

Duration of nerve root inflammation

The duration of the inflammation and the symptoms can vary greatly. The acute phase of an inflammation can last from a few days to weeks. During this time, adequate therapy with pain medication is very important.

If the inflammation of the nerve root is caused by Lyme disease, it is possible that the pain remains and a permanent nerve pain remains. If Lyme disease is suspected, treatment should therefore be carried out as early as possible to prevent long-term consequences.In case of herpes zoster (shingles), the nerve pain heals after a few weeks with proper treatment. In about 10% of patients, however, permanent pain remains (so-called post-zoster neuralgia).

In these patients it may be necessary to use higher doses of morphine and antipsychotic drugs (e.g. amitryptiline, gabapentin) to treat the chronic pain. After a herniated disc, the nerve problems ideally diminish slowly with appropriate therapy. This usually takes several weeks and requires active participation of the patient in physiotherapy and muscle building. If the patient does not cooperate sufficiently, the pain may persist.

All articles in this series:

  1. Nerve root inflammation
  2. Nerve root inflammation of the cervical spine
  3. Duration of nerve root inflammation