neuralgia

American  

[noo-ral-juh, nyoo-] / nʊˈræl dʒə, njʊ- /

noun

Pathology.

• neuralgias
  plural

1. sharp and paroxysmal pain along the course of a nerve.

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neuralgia British  

/ njʊˈrældʒɪə /

noun

1. severe spasmodic pain caused by damage to or malfunctioning of a nerve and often following the course of the nerve

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antineuralgic
  adjective
• neuralgic
  adjective
• postneuralgic
  adjective
• preneuralgic
  adjective
• unneuralgic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• neuralgias
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of neuralgia

First recorded in 1815–25; neur- + -algia

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neuralgia neuralgias

There is, as Tbakhi experienced, a potential for continued complications—as well as long-term neuralgic pain called postherpetic neuralgia, blindness, and encephalitis.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

Vaccination, which has typically been recommended for older adults, reduces the likelihood of shingles and lowers the risk of postherpetic neuralgia, or long-term nerve pain that can persist after the rash clears.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 26, 2026

The FDA approved it in 2002 for post-herpetic neuralgia, or nerve pain after shingles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 25, 2025

A serious disease in itself, shingles can also cause the lingering nerve pain called post-herpetic neuralgia.

From New York Times ● Jan. 14, 2023

“I am still tortured a good deal with neuralgia and toothache,” Olmsted wrote, “and I am tired and have a growing dread of worry & anxiety.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

With regard to ordinary trigeminal neuralgias, he speaks strongly of the current as a palliative, but very doubtfully of its power to cure, in genuine and severe cases.

From Neuralgia and the Diseases that Resemble it by Francis E. Anstie

Old neuralgias, that have long ceased to give trouble, occasionally reappear during the convalescence.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

The diagnosis of visceral neuralgias is, it need hardly be said, in most cases, a far more difficult and complicated matter.

From Neuralgia and the Diseases that Resemble it by Francis E. Anstie

Tuberculosis, scrofula, rheumatism, neuralgias, bronchial, and kidney affections are made worse in damp houses.

From Essays In Pastoral Medicine by Austin ?Malley

Again, the totally feverless commencement of neuralgias, a character which is maintained throughout the progress of the milder cases, is entirely opposed to the idea of a direct connection between myelitis and neuralgia.

From Neuralgia and the Diseases that Resemble it by Francis E. Anstie

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