How common is neuropathic pain?

Some conditions are more likely to cause neuropathic pain than others. Research has found that neuropathic pain generally affects:

• 20 to 24% of people with diabetes
• 25 to 50% of people over 50 who recently had shingles^†
• up to 20% of women after breast cancer surgery (mastectomy)
• about 33% of cancer patients
• 7% of people with lower back pain
• up to 22% of people after chest surgery
• 50 to 85% of people who experience phantom pain after amputation
• 41% of patients with spinal cord injury (pain felt at or above the level of injury)
• 8% of post-stroke patients during the first year, as was observed in one study
• Approximately 55% of patients with multiple sclerosis

† Defined as pain persisting beyond 3 months after rash onset.