Nerve pain

Need to know

• Symptoms of nerve pain icon plus

  Nerves branch out from the spinal cord to other parts of your body. These enable messages to travel from your brain to other parts of your body — it's down to this that we're able to run and walk. Nerves become trapped when they travel through narrow spaces, which causes pain. This can be due to previous traumas or even surgeries. Symptoms might include: - numbness and tingling, anywhere in the body - weakness in the muscles supplied by the affected nerve - constant sharp pain or tingling - your skin is more or less sensitive than usual to touch

• Screening and diagnosis icon plus

  An MRI scan is the best way to diagnose nerve damage and shows the internal structure of your body. The consultant will be able to see whether a nerve has become trapped. Electrophysiology might be useful to confirm the diagnosis.

• Potential treatment options icon plus

  Treatment is usually surgical. The nerve is visualised and the compression removed. At times, the nerve cannot glide and the surgery is aimed at making that possible again.