Nerve Pain

What is Nerve Pain?

Many people ask us “What’s neuropathic pain?”.

Nerve pain, also known as neuropathic pain, occurs when nerves are damaged, irritated, or not working correctly. Unlike muscle or joint pain, it feels like burning, stabbing, or electric shocks.

It can be long-term and affect daily life. If left untreated, it may worsen over time.

Common Nerve Pain Symptoms

Patients experiencing nerve pain often describe symptoms such as:

            •           Burning or tingling sensations (pins and needles)

            •           Sharp, shooting, or stabbing pain

            •           Numbness or weakness in affected areas

            •           Pain triggered by light touch or temperature changes

            •           Pain that worsens at night is usually nerve pain.

If these symptoms persist, early treatment is crucial to prevent worsening nerve damage.

What Causes Nerve Pain?

There are many possible nerve pain causes, including:

Diabetes and Peripheral Neuropathy

• Diabetic neuropathy damages nerves, often causing tingling, numbness, or pain in the feet and legs.
• Other causes of peripheral neuropathy include vitamin deficiencies (B1, B6, B12), thyroid disease, and even excessive alcohol use.

Pinched Nerves and Sciatica

• Herniated discs, sciatica, and spinal stenosis can compress spinal nerves, causing sharp pain in the back, legs, or arms.

Post-Surgical and Injury-Related Nerve Pain

• Nerve damage after surgery (e.g., post-mastectomy, post-hernia repair, after spinal surgery) can lead to debilitating pain.
• Injuries, accidents, or repetitive strain may damage nerves, leading to long-term pain.

Autoimmune Diseases and Infections

• Conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), and shingles (postherpetic neuralgia) can cause nerve pain by attacking nerve tissues.
• Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy can also lead to nerve pain after cancer treatment.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR NERVE PAIN

Book a consultation with our Pain Specialists today

Where Can Nerve Pain Occur on My Body?

Another way of assessing nerve pain is where on the body it occurs, which can help narrow down the possible diagnosis. Some of the most common areas where people experience nerve pain are:

Nerve pain in the face
Often linked to conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, which causes intense facial pain.

Nerve pain in the teeth
Can be related to dental nerve issues, trigeminal neuralgia, or post-dental procedure nerve damage.

Nerve pain in the neck
Can result from cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the neck) or conditions like whiplash.

Nerve pain in the arm
May be due to nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome, or a pinched nerve in the spine.

Nerve pain in the elbow
Often linked to ulnar nerve entrapment (cubital tunnel syndrome) or nerve compression from injury or arthritis.

Nerve pain in the hand
Can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve compression in the wrist, or peripheral neuropathy.

Nerve pain in the back can be caused by pinched nerves, herniated discs, sciatica, or spinal conditions like stenosis.

Nerve pain in the hip
Can stem from sciatica, hip joint issues, or local nerve entrapment.

Nerve pain in the knee
Can result from pinched nerves in the lower back, knee joint injuries, or peripheral neuropathy.

Nerve pain in the leg
Often caused by sciatica, peripheral neuropathy, or a pinched nerve in the lower spine.

Nerve pain in the feet
Common in diabetic neuropathy, causing tingling, numbness, and burning sensations. Local nerve entrapment like Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome can occur where the tibial nerve is compressed as it passes through the tarsal tunnel in the ankle

Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus (chicken-pox), can lead to nerve pain anywhere on the body, including the face, back, legs, and arms, often resulting in burning, tingling, or shooting pain known as postherpetic neuralgia.

Nerve Pain Treatment in Melbourne – Effective Relief Options

There are many ways to manage and treat nerve pain. The best approach depends on the cause and severity.

1. Medications for Nerve Pain Relief

Nerve pain drugs might include;

• Neuropathic pain medications might include pregabalin, gabapentin, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, venlafaxine, duloxetine. There are many more options.  

• Topical treatments including nerve pain patches (lidocaine) and capsaicin creams

• Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a natural anti-inflammatory that helps reduce nerve pain

2. Interventional Pain Treatments

• Nerve blocks and corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and relieve pain

• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to nerves can block pain signals.

• Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), an implantable device that modifies nerve pain signals using electrical stimulation.

3.Natural and Lifestyle Approaches

• Physiotherapy & Exercise Therapy: Strengthens muscles and improves nerve function.

• Dietary Changes & Supplements: Alpha-lipoic acid, PEA, vitamin B12, and magnesium can support nerve health.

• Complimentary Care: Complementary therapies may help reduce symptoms.

WHY CHOOSE OUR MELBOURNE PAIN SPECIALISTS?

Conditions like sciatica, shingles, multiple sclerosis or spinal infections can cause back pain.

At Pain Specialists Australia our expert pain specialists use empathy and care combined with advanced technology and personalised treatment plans to help you find long-term relief from chronic nerve pain. We focus on minimally invasive and evidence-based treatments, ensuring the best possible outcomes.

FAQs About Nerve Pain

1. How do I know if my nerve pain is serious?

Severe nerve pain that causes burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness may indicate an underlying condition such as sciatica, diabetic neuropathy, or a pinched nerve. If your nerve pain in feet, hands, or neck affects daily life, or if you experience sudden loss of sensation, or weakness, consult a doctor or specialist immediately.

2. What helps nerve pain at night?

Nerve pain often worsens at night due to reduced movement, inflammation, and nerve sensitivity. Treatments like low-dose amitriptyline for nerve pain can help, nerve pain patches, or adjusting your sleeping position. Pain specialists offer targeted treatments for persistent nerve pain relief.

3. What is the best treatment for nerve pain?

The best treatment depends on the cause and severity of your pain. Medications, nerve blocks, and physical therapy are common approaches. Supplements like PEA can help. Advanced treatments like or nerve ablations or peripheral nerve stimulation and even spinal cord stimulation in some cases may also help.

4. Will nerve pain go away on its own?

Some mild cases improve over time, but chronic nerve pain often requires assessment and treatment. Early treatment and intervention can prevent long-term damage.

5. How can I relieve nerve pain naturally?

Lifestyle changes such as physiotherapy, and stress management with B12 supplements, magnesium, can help. PEA supplements have also shown promise in reducing inflammation.

6. When should I see a specialist for nerve pain?

If pain persists for weeks, worsens, or disrupts daily life, consult a nerve pain specialist in Melbourne for expert care.

7. Is nerve pain the same as neuropathy?

Neuropathy refers to nerve damage which could also result in weakness with the pain, while nerve pain (neuropathic pain) is a symptom. Not all nerve pain is caused by neuropathy, but they are closely related.

8. What is sciatic nerve pain?

Sciatic nerve pain, also known as sciatica, occurs when the sciatic nerve—which runs from the lower back down the legs—becomes compressed or irritated somewhere along its course. It often causes sharp, shooting pain, tingling, or numbness in the lower back, buttocks, and legs.

References

If you’re interested in more, here are some references for your perusal.

Medical & Clinical Guidelines 

1.  Moulin D, et al Canadian Pain Society. Pharmacological management of chronic neuropathic pain: revised consensus statement from the Canadian Pain Society. Pain Res Manag. 2014 Nov-Dec;19(6):328-35.

Covers the best medications for nerve pain relief, including pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine and amitriptyline.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4273712/

2.  Finnerup NB et al. Neuropathic Pain: From Mechanisms to Treatment. Physiol Rev. 2021 Jan 1;101(1):259-301.

– Provides an in-depth overview of nerve pain mechanisms and emerging treatments like neuromodulation.

https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/physrev.00045.2019

Causes & Conditions Related to Nerve Pain

3.  Jensen TS, et al. A new definition of neuropathic pain. Pain. 2011 Oct;152(10):2204-2205.

– Defines neuropathy, radiculopathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and sciatica as key nerve pain causes.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2011.06.017

4.  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet.

– Covers peripheral neuropathy treatment, symptoms, and nerve pain management.

https://www.lb7.uscourts.gov/documents/15-23904.pdf

5.  Sagil A. et al. (2017). Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia: Prevention and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(10):656-663

– Explains shingles (herpes zoster) prevention and treatment for shingles nerve pain.

https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2017/1115/p656.html

Treatment Options & Pain Management

6.  Attal N, et al. EFNS guidelines on the pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain: 2010 revision. Eur J Neurol. 2010 Sep;17(9):1113-e88.

– Discusses the effectiveness of neuropathic pain medications. Includes Lyrica, amitriptyline dosage for nerve pain (endep for nerve pain), duloxetine for nerve pain, nerve pain creams, and nerve blocks.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20402746/

7.  Dworkin RH et al. Recommendations for the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain: an overview and literature update. Mayo Clin Proc. 2010 Mar;85(3 Suppl):S3-14.

– Highlights advanced pain treatment medications.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20194146/

Alternative & Holistic Approaches

8.  Abubaker SA, et a. Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid in the Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022 Jun 8;14(6):e25750. 

– Reviews how alpha-lipoic acid, and lifestyle changes can support nerve pain relief in dibetics.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9264721/