What Is the Best Treatment for Nerve Pain?

There isn’t one “best” medicine for nerve pain because nerve pain can have many different causes. The right treatment depends on what is irritating or damaging the nerve, where the symptoms are occurring, your medical history, and how the pain is affecting your daily life.

Medications can be helpful for managing symptoms, but they are only one part of nerve pain treatment. For persistent nerve pain, identifying the underlying cause is often the most important step toward finding longer-lasting relief.

What Does Nerve Pain Feel Like?

Nerve pain, also called neuropathic pain, can feel different from muscle or joint pain. Patients may describe it as burning, shooting, electric, stabbing, tingling, or numbness.

Symptoms may stay in one area or travel along the path of a nerve. For example, irritation of a spinal nerve in the lower back can cause pain that travels through the buttock and down the leg, as can occur with sciatica.

Because different conditions can produce similar symptoms, determining where the pain originates can help guide treatment.

What Causes Nerve Pain?

Nerve pain occurs when a nerve is irritated, compressed, injured, or otherwise not functioning normally.

Depending on where the symptoms occur, possible causes can include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, peripheral neuropathy, nerve compression, or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

This is why treating nerve pain isn’t always as simple as choosing a medication. Two people experiencing similar burning or shooting pain may have completely different underlying causes.

What Medications Are Commonly Used for Nerve Pain?

Several types of prescription medications may be used to manage neuropathic pain. Depending on the diagnosis and the individual patient, these can include certain anticonvulsant medications and antidepressants that affect the way pain signals are processed by the nervous system.

Gabapentin, for example, is used to treat certain types of nerve pain. Some antidepressant medications, including amitriptyline, may also be prescribed for neuropathic pain.

These medications aren’t appropriate for everyone and can cause side effects. The right medication, dose, and treatment plan should be determined with your healthcare provider based on your diagnosis, other medications, and overall health.

When Are Nerve Blocks Used for Nerve Pain?

A nerve block is a procedure that targets a specific nerve or group of nerves involved in transmitting pain signals.

Depending on the condition, nerve blocks may be used to help relieve pain and, in some cases, provide useful diagnostic information about where pain is coming from. They aren’t appropriate for every type of nerve pain, so an evaluation is necessary to determine whether a nerve block makes sense for a particular patient.

Learn more about nerve blocks and how they are used for pain.

When Might Spinal Cord Stimulation Be Considered?

For certain types of chronic nerve pain that haven’t responded adequately to more conservative treatments, spinal cord stimulation may be considered.

Spinal cord stimulation uses mild electrical impulses to change how pain signals are transmitted before they reach the brain. Patients typically undergo a temporary trial before deciding whether a permanent device is appropriate.

It is generally considered after other treatment options have been explored rather than as a first treatment for nerve pain.

When Should You See a Pain Management Doctor for Nerve Pain?

Consider having nerve pain evaluated if symptoms persist, worsen, repeatedly return, or begin interfering with sleep, work, walking, or everyday activities. New or progressive weakness, significant numbness, or other rapidly changing neurological symptoms should also receive prompt medical attention.

At WOW Spine, Dr. Mike Martinez focuses on identifying the source of pain before developing a treatment plan. Our approach to pain management in Fort Worth may include medication as well as minimally invasive and non-surgical options based on the patient’s diagnosis, health, and individual goals.

There may not be one “best medicine” for nerve pain. The better question is what’s causing the nerve pain—and which treatment is most appropriate for that cause.