Our Services / Nerve Pain

Do you experience ongoing shooting or stabbing pain? Does your pain radiate into other areas of your body? You may have nerve pain. Jacob Katz, MD, at Katz Medical Group, specializes in diagnosing and treating nerve pain. Taking a holistic and collaborative approach to care, Dr. Katz works closely with you to develop a plan to ease your pain and improve your quality of life. To find out if your pain is nerve pain, call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.

What is nerve pain?

Nerve pain, or neuropathic pain, is a pain condition caused by damage or dysfunction to your nervous system. Your nervous system includes your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and your peripheral nervous system (sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves throughout your body).

The symptoms caused by your nerve pain may involve any part of your nervous system. For example, a damaged nerve fiber in the peripheral nervous system may send the wrong pain signal. Or, nerve dysfunction may change the way your central nervous system interprets the nerve signal, intensifying the sensation.

What are the symptoms of nerve pain?

Nerve pain symptoms vary and may depend on the type and location of the nerve involved. But nerve pain symptoms feel different than other types of pain.

Common symptoms of nerve pain include:

• Shooting, stabbing, or burning sensation
• Electric-shock-like pain
• Increased sensitivity from touch or temperature change
• Numbness
• Radiating pain

The painful sensations may occur without provocation or from non-painful stimuli like light pressure from your clothing. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica are types of nerve pain.

What tests can diagnose nerve pain?

There’s no single test for diagnosing nerve pain. When you visit Katz Medical Group for help with your nerve pain, Dr. Katz conducts a thorough history and physical exam to determine the underlying cause of your pain.

He reviews your symptoms, medical history, and does a physical examination. Dr. Katz checks nerve health by assessing muscle strength, reflexes, and sensitivities. 

If he suspects your symptoms are from nerve pain, he performs nerve conduction studies (NCS) to measure how well your nerves carry signals. He may also recommend an MRI or CT scan.

What are my nerve pain treatment options?

Dr. Katz takes a collaborative approach to care, spending time talking to you about your nerve pain condition and all of your treatment options. Together, you develop a treatment plan that might include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Neuropathic pain medication
• Topical treatments
• Physical therapy
• Nerve blocks

Dr. Katz takes a holistic approach to care and also focuses on treating the underlying cause of your nerve pain. Diabetes, for example, is a common cause of neuropathic pain. Improving diabetes management may prevent further nerve damage. 

To schedule a nerve pain consultation at Katz Medical Group, call or book online today.