Peripheral nerve pain — often called neuropathic pain or neuropathy — is a burning, tingling, or shooting pain caused by damaged or irritated nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It can be stubborn, but it’s treatable. Our pain specialists care for neuropathic pain across Long Island and northern New Jersey, with offices in Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma, NY, and Clifton, Montville, and Plainfield, NJ.
The short version
- Peripheral nerve pain comes from damage to or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves, not from pressure at the spine.
- It often feels like burning, tingling, “pins and needles,” numbness, or electric-shock pain.
- Common causes include diabetes, injury, infection, and nerve compression.
- Treatment ranges from medication to advanced options like nerve stimulation for hard-to-control pain.
What peripheral nerve pain is
Your peripheral nerves carry signals between your brain and spinal cord and the rest of your body. When those nerves are damaged or irritated, they can misfire — producing pain even without a fresh injury. This neuropathic pain is often described as burning, tingling, prickling, numbness, or sudden electric-shock sensations, commonly in the hands and feet.
Unlike spinal nerve pain, which comes from a nerve root being pinched at the spine, peripheral nerve pain arises from the nerves themselves being damaged — which is why it’s approached differently.
Common causes
- Diabetes — one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy
- Injury or trauma — from an accident, sports injury, or surgery
- Nerve compression or entrapment — pressure on a specific peripheral nerve
- Infection and inflammation — certain illnesses can damage nerves
How we treat peripheral nerve pain — step by step
Neuropathic pain often needs a different toolkit than spine-related pain:
- Medications and therapy — nerve-specific medications, physical therapy, and managing the underlying cause (such as blood sugar in diabetes) are the foundation.
- Sympathetic nerve blocks — for certain nerve pain, including complex regional pain syndrome, a sympathetic nerve block can both diagnose and relieve.
- Peripheral nerve stimulation — for pain from a specific nerve, peripheral nerve stimulation uses gentle electrical pulses to interrupt the pain signal, often with a trial first.
- Advanced neuromodulation — for widespread or hard-to-control neuropathic pain, a spinal cord stimulator or dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation may be an option.
Straight talk: Peripheral nerve pain can be persistent, and no single treatment works for everyone. Our goal is meaningful, lasting relief — often by combining approaches — and we’ll be honest about realistic expectations for your situation.
See a doctor promptly if: you have sudden or rapidly spreading numbness or weakness, nerve pain after a significant injury, or symptoms alongside signs of infection. Rapidly progressing weakness warrants urgent evaluation.
Related conditions
If your pain actually comes from a pinched nerve at the spine rather than nerve damage, see our spinal nerve pain and sciatica pages.
Why patients across Long Island and North Jersey choose Empire
We’re a local pain practice with advanced options for difficult nerve pain, so your evaluation, treatment, and follow-up all happen close to home with the same team.
- New York: Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma — across Nassau and Suffolk
- New Jersey: Clifton, Montville, and Plainfield — serving Passaic, Morris, and Union County communities
- Interventional pain management under one roof
- Advanced neuromodulation options for hard-to-control nerve pain
Insurance
Coverage varies by plan and by location, and we accept many major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. The simplest way to know exactly what your plan covers is to call — our team will verify your benefits before your visit, so there are no surprises. Whether you’re on Long Island or in North Jersey, reach out and we’ll walk you through your options.
Frequently asked questions
What does peripheral nerve pain feel like?
Often burning, tingling, prickling “pins and needles,” numbness, or sudden electric-shock sensations — frequently in the hands and feet, and sometimes worse at night.
What causes it?
Common causes include diabetes, injury, nerve compression, and certain infections or inflammatory conditions. Identifying the cause guides treatment.
Is it the same as sciatica?
No. Sciatica comes from a nerve root pinched at the spine. Peripheral nerve pain comes from damage to the peripheral nerves themselves, so the treatments differ.
Can peripheral nerve pain be cured?
It depends on the cause. Some causes are reversible; others are managed rather than cured. The goal is meaningful, lasting relief, often by combining treatments. We’ll be honest about what’s realistic.
What are the advanced treatment options?
For pain that doesn’t respond to medication and therapy, options include peripheral nerve stimulation, sympathetic nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and DRG stimulation — several of which start with a trial so you can gauge relief first.
When should I see a doctor?
If nerve symptoms are persistent, spreading, or come with weakness, it’s worth an evaluation. Sudden or rapidly worsening numbness or weakness warrants prompt care.
Burning or tingling nerve pain that won’t quit?
Our pain specialists see patients across Long Island, NY and northern New Jersey. We’ll work out the cause and match you with the right treatment — up to advanced nerve stimulation if needed.
New York: 516-229-1443 | New Jersey: 732-630-7246
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We accept most major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. Select your state to see accepted plans.
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Accepted at our New Jersey Locations
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Medicare and Medicaid are not accepted at our New Jersey locations. Not sure about your plan? Call us and we'll verify before your visit.
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Meet Our Pain Management & Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. Monica Misak
Interventional Pain Specialist
Dr. James Yu, D.O.
Board Certified Anesthesiologist
Board Certified Interventional
Pain Management Physician
Dylan J. O'Rourke
Certified Physician Assistant
Pain Conditions Affecting Daily Life
Improve your quality of life with our comprehensive approach to pain management
We are dedicated to finding individualized treatment options tailored to fit your needs. Our team is dedicated to helping you lead a productive and active life, free from pain and disruption.
We use an integrative approach to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assess your condition.
Physical examination and review of your medical history. We assess the cause of your pain, determine its severity and duration, and help you develop an individualized treatment plan.
We provide a range of treatments and procedures to address your chronic pain. These include nerve blocks, injections, physical therapy, implantable therapies and more. We also offer health education to help you better manage your condition.