Nerve Pain

Nerve pain, also known as neuropathic pain, is a type of pain caused by damage, irritation, or dysfunction of the nerves themselves, rather than from an injury to muscles or joints. It often feels like burning, stabbing, shooting, or electric shock-like sensations and may be accompanied by numbness, tingling, or sensitivity to touch. Nerve pain can result from conditions such as diabetes, shingles, multiple sclerosis, nerve compression, or trauma. It may be constant or come and go and is typically more difficult to treat than other types of pain.

Symptoms of nerve pain can include burning, shooting, or stabbing sensations that may feel like electric shocks. The pain is often persistent or comes in waves and can occur without an obvious trigger. Affected areas may also feel overly sensitive to touch, temperature, or even light pressure—a condition known as allodynia. Tingling, numbness, or a “pins-and-needles” feeling is common, and some people experience muscle weakness or difficulty moving the affected part of the body. Nerve pain can disrupt sleep, limit mobility, and significantly impact daily activities. It may result from conditions such as nerve compression, diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), infections like shingles, or injuries affecting the nervous system.