Nerve Pain After Surgery

Some pain after surgery is expected as your body heals. Pain and swelling should slowly get better. But if you’re still feeling sharp, burning, tingling or electric pain weeks or months later, you may be experiencing post-surgical nerve pain.

At Banner Health, our pain management and neurology specialists work with surgeons and rehabilitation experts to find the cause of nerve pain after surgery. We create personalized treatment plans to help reduce pain, improve movement and support your recovery.

What is post-surgical neuropathy?

Post-surgical neuropathy, also called postoperative neuropathic pain, is nerve pain or symptoms that happen after surgery. Unlike normal soreness from the incision, neuropathic pain results from disrupted nerve signals. This can make the pain feel unusual or worse than expected. The pain may stay near the incision or spread along a nerve’s path.

This type of pain can happen after many kinds of surgery. Nerve pain doesn’t always mean something went wrong during a procedure. Nerve symptoms can develop for many reasons during healing.

Some nerve irritation gets better as the nerve heals. But if your symptoms continue, worsen or affect daily life, talk to your health care provider. Seeing a doctor early can help improve your pain, movement and quality of life.

What does nerve pain after surgery feel like?

Nerve pain after surgery often feels different from normal soreness after an operation. Typical healing pain is usually dull or tender and stays near the cut. It should get better as you heal. Nerve pain feels different.

Common symptoms of post-surgery nerve pain include:

• Burning pain after surgery
• Shooting or electrical pain after surgery
• Tingling or pins-and-needles sensations
• Numbness
• Stabbing pain
• Pain from light touch or clothing
• Changes in temperature make pain worse
• Skin that feels unusually sensitive
• Itching, crawling or buzzing sensations
• Weakness in the affected area
• Pain that travels away from the incision
• Symptoms that last longer than expected after surgery

Tell your surgeon if you have any of these signs. They can find out if it's a part of normal healing or if nerves are irritated.

What causes nerve pain after surgery?

Nerve pain after surgery can happen for several reasons. Possible causes include:

• Direct nerve injury: During surgery, a nerve can be stretched, cut, compressed or bruised.
• Scar tissue: As your body heals, scar tissue can form around a nerve. This tissue may press on or trap the nerve, causing ongoing pain, tingling or numbness.
• Inflammation: Surgery causes swelling, which is normal during healing. Sometimes, inflammation around a nerve irritates it, leading to temporary nerve pain.
• Infection or complications: Though less common, infections, hematomas (collections of blood) or other surgical complications can damage or press on nerves and cause pain.
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS): In rare cases, surgery can trigger CRPS, a chronic pain condition that causes severe, chronic nerve pain often out of proportion to the surgery.
• Phantom pain: After amputation, some people feel pain as if it comes from the missing limb. This occurs because the brain and nerves still send pain signals even though the limb is gone.

Surgeries that may involve nerve pain

Nerve pain can happen after many types of surgery; however, this doesn’t mean the procedures cause nerve damage. Most people recover without long-term nerve problems.

These surgeries include:

• Spine surgery
• Joint replacement or other orthopedic surgery
• Hernia repair
• Breast surgery
• Chest or abdominal surgery
• Pelvic or gynecologic surgery
• Foot or ankle surgery
• Amputation
• Cancer surgery

How is post-surgical neuropathy diagnosed?

If you have nerve pain after surgery, your provider will review your symptoms, medical history and recovery. They will ask when the pain started, where it is located and what it feels like. They may also ask what makes the pain better or worse.

Your provider may also order additional tests. These tests may include:

• Skin biopsy
• Nerve biopsy
• Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies
• Imaging tests like MRI or CT scan
• A diagnostic nerve block, in some cases

Your provider will also check for other conditions that might cause pain after surgery. These include infections, blood clots, poor wound healing, joint or spine issues or CRPS. Finding out what causes your pain helps your care team suggest the best treatment for you.

Treatment options for nerve pain after surgery

Treatment depends on the type of surgery you had, the cause of your symptoms and how much the pain affects your daily life. Your care team will work with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals.

Medication for nerve pain

Some medicines help quiet nerve signals that cause nerve pain. Your doctor will suggest medicines based on your symptoms, overall health and other medicines you take.

• Medications for nerve pain, like gabapentin or pregabalin, can be used for a short time.
• Anti-inflammatory medicines help reduce swelling that irritates nerves.

Note: Do not start or stop prescription medicines without talking to your health care provider first.

Topical treatments

Creams, gels and medicated patches may help relieve pain in the affected area. These treatments are applied directly to the skin and may be used alone or with other therapies.

Physical or occupational therapy

Therapy can play an important role in recovery. A PT or OT can help you:

• Improve strength and flexibility
• Restore movement
• Reduce scar sensitivity
• Improve balance and coordination
• Make everyday activities easier and less painful

Pain management procedures

If pain continues with conservative treatment, your provider might suggest procedures to target the nerve causing the pain. Depending on your condition, options could include:

• Nerve blocks
• Trigger point injections
• Other image-guided pain management

Scar tissue and desensitization therapy

Some people develop pain because the scar or surrounding tissue becomes sensitive during healing. Your care team may recommend:

• Scar massage techniques
• Desensitization exercises
• Gentle stretching

Should I contact my surgeon if I have nerve pain after surgery?

Some discomfort is expected but new or worsening symptoms should always be reported to your surgical team.

Contact your surgeon if you have:

• Increasing pain near your incision
• New numbness, tingling or weakness
• Pain that travels down an arm or leg
• Worsening swelling
• Redness, warmth or drainage from the incision
• Fever
• Pain that is not improving with your treatment plan

These symptoms don’t always mean a serious problem but they should get checked out. Your provider can determine whether your symptoms are part of normal healing or if you need additional testing or treatment.

When should you see a pain management or neurology specialist?

Sometimes nerve pain lasts longer than expected or continues after the surgical area has healed. You may benefit from seeing a pain management or neurology specialist if you have:

• Burning, shooting or electric pain
• Ongoing numbness or tingling
• Pain from light touch or clothing
• Weakness or loss of function
• Pain that affects sleep, work or daily activities
• Pain that continues despite treatment
• Symptoms that may be related to CRPS or another chronic nerve pain condition

Specialists can review your symptoms, identify possible causes and recommend additional treatment options.

Living with nerve pain after surgery

Living with nerve pain after surgery can be very frustrating. Your incision might look healed but you could still feel burning, tingling or electric shocks. These feelings are real and you don't have to handle them alone.

Your care team can help you:

• Keep track of your symptoms and find what causes them
• Move safely and improve your movement
• Sleep better even if pain makes it hard
• Lower sensitivity around the surgery area
• Check your medicines and side effects
• Deal with stress, anxiety or mood changes from pain
• Make a long-term plan to manage your pain

The sooner you talk about ongoing nerve pain, the sooner you can find treatment options that may make you feel more comfortable and improve your quality of life.

Why choose Banner Health for post-surgical neuropathy care?

Banner Health treats nerve pain and chronic pain conditions with pain management, neurology and Banner Neurosciences. Our teams can evaluate symptoms, find probable causes and suggest treatment options that fit your needs.

Banner Health can also help connect you with the right care, based on your symptoms, surgery history and recovery needs. We are here to help you move forward.

Find a Banner Health specialist.

Learn about neuropathic pain treatment.

FAQs

What is post-surgical neuropathy?

Post-surgical neuropathy is nerve pain or nerve-related symptoms after surgery. It may cause burning, shooting pain, tingling, numbness or sensitivity near the surgical area or along a nerve pathway.

Is nerve pain normal after surgery?

Some nerve irritation can happen during healing and may improve over time. Pain that is severe, worsening, long-lasting or linked to numbness, weakness or skin sensitivity should be evaluated.  

What does nerve pain after surgery feel like?

It may feel like burning, shooting, electric, stabbing, tingling or numbness. Some people also have pain from light touches or clothing.

What causes nerve pain after surgery?

It may be caused by nerve irritation, stretching, compression, injury, swelling, scar tissue or inflammation. Sometimes, more than one factor is involved.

Can post-surgical nerve pain go away?

Some nerve pain improves as healing continues. Other cases last longer and need treatment. A pain management or neurology specialist can help evaluate ongoing symptoms.

How is post-surgical neuropathy treated?

Treatment may include medicines for nerve pain, topical treatments, physical or occupational therapy, nerve blocks, injections or other pain management options.

When should I call my surgeon about nerve pain?

Call your surgical team if pain is worsening, new or severe or if you have fever, redness, drainage, swelling, weakness or numbness that is getting worse.