Enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Nerve pain center
Read on to learn more about nerve pain.
Open Modal

Nerve pain center

What is nerve pain?

Nerve pain is pain that is caused by damage or disease that affects the nerves, spinal cord, or the brain.1,2 Your doctor may refer to nerve pain as neuropathic pain.

When nerves are injured or damaged, they can “misfire” and send spontaneous messages to the spinal cord and brain.The spinal cord and the brain then interpret these messages as pain.1

Nerve pain is often chronic, which means it can go on for several months or more with no apparent cause.3

Nerve pain can also be caused by a number of factors including:3

Alcohol abuse


Spinal cord injury

Nutritional/Metabolic disorders

Infective/Autoimmune Disorders

Certain medications

The likelihood of experiencing nerve pain typically rises with age and severity of the underlying condition.3

How common is nerve pain?

It’s important to remember that if you suffer from pain you are not alone.3 Nerve pain affects many people and symptoms can differ from person to person.

If you have pain that won’t go away, make an appointment to talk to your doctor.

What does nerve pain feel like?

Nerve pain is often described as feeling tingling, pins and needles, burning, freezing, stabbing, shooting, or electric shocks.3 This pain can be constant, or may come and go, and often gets worse at night.10

Painful areas may become abnormally sensitive if you have nerve pain. For example, sensations that would usually not cause pain, such as clothes brushing against your skin or a cold draught of air, can be intensely painful experiences.3


Nerve pain can feel different from other types of pain. This video describes some of the symptoms you may experience and parts of the body where they may occur.11

If you recognize any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor and describe your symptoms.

Don't ignore your pain

Nerve pain can negatively impact your quality of life.12 In addition to pain, a delay in treatment or misdiagnosis of your nerve pain may lead to the development of other conditions including:12


Sleep disorders


There are specific treatments available for nerve pain. If you think you have nerve pain, make an appointment to see your doctor.

If you have pain that won’t go away, it’s important to get help.

learn more
Did you find this content helpful?: 
Average: 3.8 (47 votes)