Neuritis vs Neuralgia

[wadeheather]

After trying to collect my report from my Eye Dr visit last winter because of severe pain in my rt eye, I got confused.  I had recalled that he had said "possible neuritis," which he described as "your nerve just reminding you that it is there." When I talked to the receptionist, I asked her if the "neuritis" was listed in the report.  She said it said "neuralgia."  That's where my confusion set in.  So, after looking at many confusing descriptions, I came across this:

Neuralgia is a sever burning or stabbing pain that is often following the course of the whole nerve neuritis is more of a disease of the peripheral nerves the inflammation of neuritis can be more long term than neuralgia the pain from neuralgia is often caused by neuritis.

The way I understand it is that you can't have neuralgia without neuritis.  Is that correct?  

Would love your knowledge.
Heather

[steph74]

My understanding is that you can have neuralgia w/o neuritis.  "itis" means inflamation (inflammation) (e.g. tonsilitis, appendicitis).  "algia" means pain (e.g. neuralgia, fibromyalgia).  You can have nerve pain (neuralgia) from a central nervous system problem (e.g. MS lesion) but you can also have it due to inflamation (inflammation) in the nerve.

HTH

Stephanie