Neuralgia is pain in one or more nerves , which occurs without stimulation of pain receptor cells. Neuralgia pain is produced by a change in neurological structure or function rather than by the excitation of pain receptors that causes nociceptive pain. Neuralgia falls into two categories: central neuralgia and peripheral neuralgia. This unusual pain is thought to be linked to three possible mechanisms: ion gate malfunctions in which the nerve becomes mechanically sensitive and creates an ectopic signal, cross signals between large and small fibers, and malfunction due to damage in the central processor.