Nerve pain, also called neuralgia or neuropathic pain, occurs when a nerve is irritated, compressed, or damaged. Pain from a sore muscle usually settles within a few days of rest. Nerve pain that continues, worsens, or travels into an arm or leg often comes from a spine condition and benefits from a specialist evaluation to find the source.
Once the source is identified, treatment focuses on relief, starting with the least invasive options.
Non-surgical care
Advanced and minimally invasive options
Most procedures are performed same-day, on an outpatient basis, as an alternative to traditional open back surgery.
One of the most common causes of nerve pain is a degenerative spine condition, the result of years of movement and load on the spine. Common causes include:
Worn discs lose height and can narrow the space around nerves.
Arthritic facet joints and bone spurs crowd the nerve roots.
A slipped vertebra can pinch the nerves at that level.
Disc material presses on a nerve root.
Narrowing of the canal crowds several nerves.
Injury or strain
Sports, yard work, or lifting can irritate a nerve.
Nerve pain can start at the spine or along a nerve in the limb. The distinction guides treatment.
Spine-related
Radiculopathy
A nerve root is compressed at the spine
Peripheral
Neuropathy or entrapment
A nerve is affected in the limb
Some patients have both. An examination and nerve studies help determine which is responsible.
Nerve pain is often described as burning, shooting, stabbing, or electric. It is frequently accompanied by numbness, tingling, or pins and needles, and it may travel along the path of the nerve into an arm or leg.
Muscle pain is usually a dull ache that stays in one area and improves within a few days of rest. Nerve pain tends to be sharp or burning, travels along a line, and often comes with numbness, tingling, or weakness.
Yes. A compressed nerve in the neck can cause symptoms in the shoulder, arm, and hand, sometimes without neck pain. A compressed nerve in the lower back can cause pain in the buttock, leg, and foot.
See a specialist if nerve pain lasts more than a couple of weeks, keeps returning, worsens, or comes with weakness. Seek immediate care for rapidly worsening weakness or any loss of bladder or bowel control.
Degenerative conditions such as degenerative disc disease, facet joint arthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis are the most common causes of chronic nerve pain from the spine.
Many patients achieve lasting relief with physical therapy, medication, weight management, and targeted injections. Minimally invasive surgery is considered when these do not provide enough relief.
For chronic nerve pain that persists despite other treatment, options such as a spinal cord stimulator can interrupt pain signals. A trial period allows patients to test the therapy first.
A physical examination, sometimes with MRI, CT, or nerve testing, helps locate where the nerve is irritated. Total Spine and Orthopedics offers a complimentary MRI review; call (321) 499-4646 to schedule.
Nerve pain from spinal compression often comes with other symptoms that affect daily life. Common signs include:
Symptoms follow the region of the spine where the nerve is affected.
From the neck
Seek immediate care for progressive weakness, foot drop, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or any loss of bladder or bowel control.
How ultra-minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures compare with traditional open surgery, and why most patients recover faster.
When nerve pain needs a procedure, minimally invasive techniques offer a safer alternative to open back surgery, with a smaller scar and a shorter recovery.
Hear our patients share their experience with us, All in their own words.
Expert, ultra-minimally invasive spine and orthopedic care, close to home.
Ultra-minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques
We specialize in procedures performed through incisions smaller than a dime, sparing muscle and supporting a faster recovery.
Same-day, outpatient procedures
Most patients walk in and return home within hours, rather than facing an overnight hospital stay.
Board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons
Our team includes early leaders in endoscopic spine surgery.
A complimentary MRI review
Understand your diagnosis and options from a board-certified specialist before committing to any treatment.
Trusted by our community
More than 1,100 patient reviews at a 4.6-star average, and over 50,000 patients treated.
Tracing pain to its source
Nerve pain can appear far from the problem, so we trace symptoms back to the nerve and the cause.
Comprehensive spine and orthopedic care
From injections to advanced procedures, your full continuum of care is handled in one place.
Convenient locations across the Space Coast and Orlando
Care close to home in Melbourne, Orlando (Lake Nona), and Titusville.
