Nerve Pain

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.

Illustration of glowing nerve cells representing nerve pain
Person holding a painful wrist and forearm

What Is Nerve Pain?

Nerves carry signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body. When a nerve is compressed or irritated, it can send abnormal signals that are felt as burning, shooting, or electric pain, along with numbness, tingling, or weakness. Because the nerve serves a specific region, symptoms can appear far from where the nerve is affected.
 
For example, a pinched nerve in the neck can cause pain in the shoulder, arm, and hand, sometimes without any neck pain at all. A compressed nerve in the lower back can cause sciatica in the leg and foot. This pattern is called radiculopathy.

Treatments For Nerve Pain

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.

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Diagnosing the Cause of Nerve Pain

The first step is to find the location and cause. Because symptoms can travel far from the irritated nerve, a physical examination of strength, reflexes, and sensation along the spine helps trace them to their source. MRI or CT shows whether a degenerative spine condition is compressing a nerve, which is often the most common cause of chronic nerve pain. Nerve conduction studies can distinguish spinal from peripheral nerve problems.
 
If you already have MRI imaging, you can sign up for our free MRI review. Our team of highly trained staff will examine your imaging, answer all of your questions, and help point you towards the path of effective, minimally invasive treatments.
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Illustration of nerve pain radiating from the spine into the hip

Common Causes Of Nerve Pain

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:

Degenerative disc disease

Worn discs lose height and can narrow the space around nerves.

Facet disease

Arthritic facet joints and bone spurs crowd the nerve roots.

Spondylolisthesis

A slipped vertebra can pinch the nerves at that level.

Herniated discs

Disc material presses on a nerve root.

Spinal stenosis

Narrowing of the canal crowds several nerves.

Injury or strain

Sports, yard work, or lifting can irritate a nerve.

Spine-Related Or Peripheral Nerve Pain?

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

  • Often comes with neck or back pain.
  • Pain follows one nerve into an arm or leg.
  • Changes with posture, coughing, or sitting.

Peripheral

Neuropathy or entrapment

A nerve is affected in the limb

  • Diabetic neuropathy often starts in both feet.
  • Entrapment such as carpal tunnel affects one area.
  • Usually no neck or back pain.

Some patients have both. An examination and nerve studies help determine which is responsible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does nerve pain feel like?

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.

How is nerve pain different from muscle pain?

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.

Can a spine problem cause pain in my hand or foot?

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.

When should nerve pain be evaluated?

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.

What are the most common spinal causes of nerve pain?

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.

Can nerve pain be treated without surgery?

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.

What if nerve pain continues after treatment?

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.

How is the source of nerve pain found?

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.

Symptoms Of Nerve Pain

Nerve pain from spinal compression often comes with other symptoms that affect daily life. Common signs include:

  • Localized pain at the site of the pinched nerve.
  • Shooting pain into the arms or legs.
  • Numbness, weakness, or tingling, local or radiating.
  • Burning or electric sensations along the nerve.
  • Mobility problems or difficulty with daily tasks.

Symptoms follow the region of the spine where the nerve is affected.

From the neck

  • Pain into the shoulder, arm, or hand.
  • Tingling in the fingers or weak grip.
  • See neck pain.

From the lower back

  • Pain through the buttock and down the leg.
  • Numbness or tingling in the foot.
  • See sciatica and back pain.

Seek immediate care for progressive weakness, foot drop, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or any loss of bladder or bowel control.

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Older woman with a highlighted spine holding her lower back

Related Conditions

Pinched Nerves

Pinched nerves are one of the most common causes of chronic neck and back pain. A nerve becomes “pinched” when it is placed under pressure from an external source, such as an out of place bone or soft tissue from a herniated disc.

Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is a pinched spinal nerve root causing pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates into an arm or leg. Learn the causes and minimally invasive treatments.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in our body. It controls numerous muscles in the lower extremities and supplies sensation as well.

Herniated Discs

Chances are you’ve heard of a herniated disc. If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, you are likely also familiar with the pain and symptoms often caused by this condition. As you begin to research the treatment options available to help you find pain relief, it’s important to understand what causes a herniated disc to develop in the first place.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can crowd the nerves and cause back pain and leg pain when standing or walking.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease describes age-related wear of the spinal discs that can cause chronic back or neck pain.

Foraminal Stenosis

Foraminal stenosis, or narrowing, occurs when the open passageways between the spinal vertebrae (foramina) are encroached upon by displaced bone or soft tissue, often due to degenerative changes in parts of the spine.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

If you’ve undergone spine surgery but still experience persistent or worsening pain, you might be dealing with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS). At Total Spine and Orthopedics, our experienced specialists understand how frustrating ongoing pain after surgery can be. We're dedicated to providing personalized care to help you regain comfort and quality of life.

Neck Pain

At some point in life, most adults experience some level of neck pain. Whether you woke up in the morning with a “crick in your neck” or you have felt the constant dull pain of a spine condition, you understand the frustration neck pain can cause.

When Nerve Pain Needs A Procedure

The Minimally Invasive Advantage

How ultra-minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures compare with traditional open surgery, and why most patients recover faster.

Traditional open surgeryMinimally invasive / endoscopicOur specialty at Total Spine
IncisionA lengthy incision is required to expose the spine.A tiny incision, smaller than a dime, is used.
Muscle and soft tissueMuscle is cut and dissected to reach the spine.Muscle is preserved and gently moved aside, supporting a quicker recovery.
Hospital stayTypically an overnight or multi-day hospital stay.A same-day procedure; most patients return home within hours.
Blood loss and infection riskGreater blood loss and a higher risk of infection.Minimal blood loss and a lower risk of infection.
Postoperative painMore pain, often requiring stronger medication for longer.Markedly less pain for most patients, with lighter use of pain medication.
Return to daily activityA lengthy recovery, often weeks to months before normal activity.A faster recovery; many patients resume light activity within days.
ScarringLeaves a larger, more noticeable scar.Leaves only a small scar.

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.

Our Patients Stories

Hear our patients share their experience with us, All in their own words.

Why Choose Total Spine and Orthopedics

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.

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