Nerve Pain
Burning, shooting, or electric pain from irritated nerves
Quick Facts
- Type: Neurological symptom
- Common causes: Diabetes, pinched nerves, shingles, injury
- Feels like: Burning, shooting, stabbing, electric shocks
- Seek urgent care: Sudden weakness, bladder/bowel loss, after injury
Overview
Nerve pain, also called neuropathic pain, is pain that comes from damage to or irritation of the nerves themselves, rather than from an injury to tissue like a cut or sprain. People often describe it as burning, tingling, shooting, stabbing, or like electric shocks. It may also cause areas of numbness, heightened sensitivity, or pain from a touch that should not hurt, such as bedsheets brushing the skin.
Nerves carry signals between the body and brain, and when they are compressed, inflamed, or damaged, they can send faulty pain messages. Nerve pain can be steady or come in sudden jolts, and it tends to be harder to treat than ordinary pain. Many causes are manageable, and identifying the underlying problem, such as diabetes or a pinched nerve, is key to relieving symptoms and preventing further nerve damage. Because nerve pain can be ongoing and wearing, a combination of treating the underlying cause and using targeted pain therapies usually works better than any single approach, and early attention gives the best chance of relief and of preventing further nerve damage.
Common Causes
Nerve pain has many possible causes:
- Diabetes: High blood sugar damages nerves over time, a leading cause of peripheral neuropathy, often in the feet.
- Pinched or compressed nerves: A herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Shingles: Lingering nerve pain after a shingles rash (postherpetic neuralgia).
- Trigeminal neuralgia: Severe facial nerve pain (trigeminal neuralgia).
- Injury, infection, and other diseases: Trauma, vitamin deficiencies (such as vitamin B12 deficiency), certain medications, and multiple sclerosis.
Associated Symptoms
Nerve pain often comes with other nerve-related symptoms:
- Numbness and tingling or pins-and-needles
- Muscle weakness in the affected area
- Heightened sensitivity, so light touch causes pain
- Pain that radiates along a limb, such as down the leg (sciatica) or arm
- Loss of balance or coordination when nerves to the legs are affected
Sudden severe weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin area is a red flag that needs emergency care.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
Diagnosing nerve pain focuses on finding the source of nerve damage:
- History and exam: Describing the pain's character and location, and testing sensation, strength, and reflexes.
- Blood tests: Checking for diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, and other causes.
- Nerve studies: Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction tests measure how nerves and muscles are working.
- Imaging: MRI or CT to find a pinched nerve, disc problem, or spinal issue.
You may be referred to a neurologist for complex or unexplained nerve pain.
Treatment & Management
Treating nerve pain usually combines addressing the cause with pain control:
- Treat the underlying cause: Controlling blood sugar, relieving a pinched nerve, or correcting a vitamin deficiency.
- Specific nerve-pain medicines: Certain anti-seizure and antidepressant medications are first-line for neuropathic pain; topical treatments can help localized pain.
- Physical therapy: Exercises and techniques to maintain strength, mobility, and function.
- Other approaches: Nerve blocks, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and pain-management programs for stubborn pain.
Ordinary painkillers often work poorly for nerve pain, which is why targeted treatments matter. Early management can also help prevent further nerve damage.
Self-Care & Prevention
Some nerve pain can be prevented by protecting nerve health:
- Manage diabetes well, keeping blood sugar in target range to prevent nerve damage.
- Maintain good posture and ergonomics to reduce nerve compression, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Get the shingles vaccine if eligible, to lower the risk of shingles and lingering nerve pain.
- Eat a balanced diet with adequate B vitamins, and treat any deficiencies.
- Limit alcohol, which can damage nerves over time.
Treating injuries and pinched nerves promptly also helps prevent lasting nerve pain.
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor for nerve pain that is persistent, worsening, or interfering with sleep or daily life. Seek emergency care immediately if nerve pain comes with:
- Sudden severe weakness or paralysis in a limb
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin and inner thighs
- Nerve pain following a significant injury or fall
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping, or slurred speech (possible stroke)
These red flags can signal serious spinal cord compression or a stroke and require urgent treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does nerve pain feel like?
Nerve pain is typically described as burning, tingling, shooting, stabbing, or electric-shock-like. It may also cause numbness, heightened sensitivity, or pain from light touch. This differs from the aching or throbbing of an ordinary muscle or joint injury.
What is the most common cause of nerve pain?
Diabetes is one of the most common causes, as high blood sugar gradually damages nerves, often in the feet. Pinched nerves from disc problems, shingles, injuries, and vitamin deficiencies are other frequent causes.
Why don't regular painkillers help my nerve pain?
Nerve pain comes from faulty nerve signaling rather than tissue injury, so ordinary painkillers often work poorly. Doctors usually treat it with specific medicines such as certain anti-seizure or antidepressant drugs, along with treating the underlying cause.
Can nerve pain be cured?
It depends on the cause. Nerve pain from a treatable problem, like a pinched nerve or vitamin deficiency, may resolve when that cause is fixed. Chronic nerve pain often can be substantially reduced and managed even if not fully cured.
When is nerve pain an emergency?
Seek emergency care if nerve pain comes with sudden severe limb weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, or stroke-like symptoms such as one-sided weakness, facial drooping, or slurred speech.
References
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Peripheral Neuropathy.
- Mayo Clinic. Peripheral neuropathy — Symptoms and causes.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Nerve pain.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes and nerve damage.