Persistent tingling, stabbing, or burning sensations? You might be living with neuropathic pain. Learn what it is, why it happens, and how we treat it at HTX Pain Care.
Introduction: It’s Not “Just a Pinched Nerve” – Your Pain Deserves a Closer Look
If you’ve been brushing off tingling, shooting pain, or strange electric shock-like feelings in your hands, feet, or back, let me stop you right there—your body is trying to tell you something. And it’s not “normal.” These aren’t simply signs of aging, overwork, or “just stress.”
I’ve met many patients who delayed getting help because they assumed these sensations were trivial or that they had to “just live with it.” I want you to hear this from a pain specialist who’s treated thousands of cases: neuropathic pain is real, diagnosable, and treatable.
So let’s talk honestly about what’s happening inside your nerves, why that pain lingers, and how we at HTX Pain Care approach treatment with compassion and precision.
What Is Neuropathic Pain?
Neuropathic pain occurs when your nerves are damaged or not working properly, causing them to send faulty pain signals to the brain. This can happen even in the absence of a clear injury.
It’s a pain that doesn’t always make sense—it may flare up suddenly, persist after a wound has healed, or worsen with seemingly harmless contact like bedsheets brushing your skin.
Unlike short-term pain that protects you, neuropathic pain can become chronic and exhausting.
Why Does Neuropathic Pain Happen?
Your nervous system is like an intricate highway of electrical cables. When these cables fray, misfire, or get inflamed, pain signals may fire uncontrollably. Common triggers include:
- Diabetes (often causing diabetic neuropathy)
- Infections like shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia)
- Trauma or surgery (nerve entrapment or damage)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve compression syndromes
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancer or chemotherapy
- Idiopathic causes (yes, sometimes we can’t find a cause—but the pain is still very real)
In some cases, like Small Fiber Neuropathy, people experience widespread pain and autonomic symptoms (such as changes in sweating or heart rate), often without obvious nerve test abnormalities. Many of these go misdiagnosed for years.
Symptoms: What Does Neuropathic Pain Feel Like?
Here’s the thing—it doesn’t feel like the pain you’re used to. Neuropathic pain has a character of its own. It may show up as:
- Burning, stabbing, or shooting pain
- Numbness that feels “deep” or icy
- Pins and needles (paresthesia)
- Hypersensitivity (even a breeze can hurt)
- Electric shock-like jolts
- Pain that worsens at night
- Twitching or muscle cramping
- Feeling like you’re wearing a glove or sock when you’re not
- Worsened balance or coordination issues
Why Awareness Matters – Especially for the Aging and the Unaware
Here’s a pattern I often see:
📌 An older adult starts having trouble sleeping. They’re moodier, more withdrawn. Their hands tingle, feet burn, and they stumble more often.
📌 But no one connects the dots, assuming it’s “just old age.”
In reality? Their nerves are degenerating, and the pain is not psychological or inevitable. It’s neuropathic—and very treatable.
And it’s not just seniors. I’ve seen young adults with post-viral neuropathy, women post-chemotherapy, and athletes with nerve entrapments all suffering quietly because no one told them what neuropathic pain feels like.
How We Diagnose It at HTX Pain Care
Every patient’s pain story is different and deserves detailed investigation. At HTX Pain Care, we use:
- Nerve conduction studies & EMG (to measure electrical activity)
- Imaging (MRI/CT scans) to rule out compressive causes
- Quantitative sensory testing for sensory threshold mapping
- Skin or nerve biopsies, when necessary
- Thorough clinical history & neurological exams
We also screen for underlying conditions like diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, or prior viral exposures. Identifying the “why” behind the pain helps us personalize your treatment.
How We Treat Neuropathic Pain at HTX Pain Care
You deserve relief—and we believe in layered, patient-specific treatments backed by the latest science. Here’s what we offer:
1. Medications:
- Gabapentin or Pregabalin
- Duloxetine or Amitriptyline
- Topical agents like lidocaine or capsaicin
2. Interventional Treatments:
- Nerve Blocks: https://htxpaincare.com/injections-blocks-specialist/
- Steroid Injections: https://htxpaincare.com/pain-center/
- Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS): https://htxpaincare.com/pain-center/
3. Regenerative Therapies (as applicable
4. Lifestyle & Supportive Therapies:
- Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory diet and sleep restoration
5. Patient Education and Emotional Support
When to Seek Help
If you’re:
- Feeling unexplained burning, stabbing, or numb sensations
- Losing sleep due to pain
- Finding your balance, mood, or daily function declining
- Frustrated that nothing seems to help
It’s time to speak to someone who listens and understands.
Conclusion: Relief Isn’t Just Possible—It’s Within Reach
Pain can be isolating. But you don’t have to endure it alone or assume it’s your “new normal.” If something feels off—whether it’s your skin feeling “weird,” your feet always tingling, or your sleep becoming unrestful—trust your instincts.
At HTX Pain Care, we combine empathy, science, and experience to help people like you reclaim comfort, control, and quality of life.
Let’s start a conversation. We’ll listen. We’ll investigate. And we’ll treat you with the respect your pain deserves.
Take the First Step Toward Relief
📞 Ready to take the next step?
Schedule a consultation with us at HTX Pain Care today. Your relief might be one conversation away.