Brain & Nervous System Neurological Symptoms & Diagnosis Nerve Pain Linked to Medical Conditions and Injury By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice Facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 24, 2023 Medically reviewed by Smita Patel, MD Medically reviewed by Smita Patel, MD LinkedIn Twitter Smita Patel, MD is triple board-certified in neurology, sleep medicine, and integrative medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Types Symptoms Causes Diagnosis/Treatment More than 15 million people in the United States and Europe have neuropathic pain, or nerve pain. When it occurs, nerve pain can be confusing. At worst, nerve pain is excruciating. At best, it is annoying. People often don't know what brought on the pain. It also may be difficult to explain what they are experiencing (sharp pain, stabbing, aching, radiating, numb). A basic understanding of how nerves work may be helpful. Jan-Otto / E+ / Getty Images Overview The central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord serves as headquarters for nerves that are routed to and from other parts of the body. The nerves that branch out to other body parts are referred to as peripheral nerves. The spinal cord and its peripheral nerve roots are housed within a stack of bones, known as the vertebral column. A cushion-like disc (with a gelatinous center) sits between the vertebrae. Thirty-one pairs of nerves exit the spinal cord through openings between the vertebrae and then branch out to other parts of the body. The point of exit for a nerve is called a nerve root. Peripheral nerves consist of sensory nerves and motor nerves. Sensory nerves are associated with how something feels (e.g., hot, cold, painful). Motor nerves (which lead to muscles) are associated with movement. To break this down even further, individual nerve cells consist of an axon (the inner pathway whereby information is transmitted) and a myelin sheath (a fatty outer covering that protects the nerve cell and helps transmit information). An injury or irritation to any part of the nerve structure can cause nerve pain. Types There are actually two categories of nerve pain—nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain (i.e., neuropathy). With nociceptive pain, nerves transmit impulses to signal that a part of the body has been injured or damaged. With neuropathic pain, the nerve itself is what is injured causing an abnormal transmission of impulses. Symptoms Nerve pain can express itself in a few different ways, depending on the location and cause of the nerve injury or damage. There may be increased sensitivity at the skin level, in the area served by the damaged nerve. When this is the case, gentle touching in this area is felt as pain—sometimes severe pain.There may be numbness along the path of the damaged nerve. Generally, when this is the case, the numbness always occurs in the same location (e.g., the foot associated with the damaged nerve). It may be constant or intermittent. It may occur with a stabbing sensation or a burning sensation. It may grow worse with movement.Muscles supplied by the damaged nerve may become weak, or in some cases, paralyzed. Causes Nerve pain may be linked to various medical conditions or exposure to certain chemicals, as well as traumatic injury. Possible causes include: Diabetes Infection Lupus Multiple sclerosis HIV Complex regional pain syndrome Lead ingestion Vitamin deficiencies Sciatica Herniated disc Inflammation of the nerve Compression of the nerve or pinched nerve Shingles Cancer Surgery Certain medications There is some evidence that abnormalities in both the central and peripheral nervous systems play important roles in fibromyalgia, although the cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown. Drugs effective in treating fibromyalgia are also effective in treating nerve pain. Diagnosis and Treatment To diagnose nerve pain, typically, patients have a comprehensive neurological exam, an MRI to evaluate the structure of the nerves, and an EMG (electromyography) to evaluate nerve conduction. If necessary, a spinal tap may provide more information. There are several options for treating nerve pain. Depending on the location and type of nerve pain, and the cause if it is known, medications, injections, epidurals, alternative treatments, spinal cord stimulation, nerve ablation, and sometimes surgery may provide relief from nerve pain. A Word From Verywell If you're experiencing nerve pain, find out what's causing your pain and learn about treatment options. Understand those options. Be sure you have a well-respected neurologist and a pain management doctor on your team, too. Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Nerve Pain. University of Michigan Neurosciences. Anatomy of Nerve Pain. Ralph F. Rashbaum, MD. Spine-health. 6/27/2001. By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit