Nerve pain: what causes it and how to manage it
Nerve pain, also called neuropathic pain, feels different from regular aches — sharp, burning, electric shocks, or numbness. It comes from damaged or irritated nerves. Common causes include diabetes, shingles, nerve compression, chemotherapy, and certain infections. Symptoms can be constant or come in waves, and they often get worse at night.
What causes nerve pain?
Nerve pain starts when a nerve is damaged, compressed, inflamed, or exposed to chemicals that change how it sends signals. Diabetes causes high blood sugar that slowly damages nerves, especially in the feet and hands. Shingles is a viral infection that can inflame nerves and leave long lasting pain after the rash clears. Compression from a herniated disc or trapped nerve causes localized sharp or shooting pain.
How to manage nerve pain at home and with meds
Start with practical steps: keep blood sugar in range if you have diabetes, use heat or cold for short relief, protect numb areas from injury, and try gentle exercise to improve circulation. Over the counter painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen sometimes help, but neuropathic pain often needs specific drugs. First line prescriptions include gabapentin and pregabalin, which calm overactive nerves, and duloxetine, which changes pain signals. Topical options like lidocaine patches or high concentration capsaicin cream work for some people with localized pain. Steroid shots can reduce inflammation around a compressed nerve; they usually require imaging and a specialist.
Non drug options matter: physical therapy to stretch and strengthen, cognitive behavioral therapy to handle chronic pain, and nerve blocks or spinal cord stimulation for severe cases. Watch for side effects: gabapentin and pregabalin can cause sleepiness and swelling; duloxetine may raise blood pressure or cause nausea. Ask your doctor about interactions with other meds, alcohol, and kidney function, which affects dosing for many nerve drugs.
When should you see a doctor? Get evaluated if pain is severe, getting worse, follows an injury, comes with weakness, fever, or sudden loss of bladder or bowel control. A quick exam, blood tests, nerve studies, or imaging can pinpoint the cause and guide treatment.
Managing nerve pain often means trying a few approaches. Be patient, track what helps, and keep your healthcare team in the loop so you can find the right mix of treatments with fewer side effects.
Practical tips: keep a pain diary noting triggers, time of day, food, and sleep quality; try low impact activities like walking, swimming, or tai chi; avoid smoking because it slows nerve healing; consider a vitamin B12 check if you have numbness. Supplements such as alpha lipoic acid and certain B vitamins help some people, but talk to your doctor before starting anything new.
If pain limits work or sleep, ask about disability supports, workplace modifications, or a referral to pain specialists. Treatments can be combined safely when monitored. You don’t have to accept constant burning or shocks—there are strategies that reduce pain and improve daily life. Visit CanPharm for drug guides and tips.
Cymbalta: Everything You Need to Know About Duloxetine for Depression, Anxiety, and Pain Relief

Curious about Cymbalta? Get a real-world, easy-to-understand look at this popular antidepressant. Learn how it works, what to expect, possible side effects, and tips for taking Cymbalta safely. Dive into practical advice based on facts, not just technical jargon. Know if Cymbalta could make a difference for you or someone you care about.
23.05.25
Alistair Mukondiwa
12