Back Nerve Pain? When You Should Seek Professional Help

Nerve pain coming from your back can feel like burning, stabbing, or electric-like discomfort, and often radiates into the arms or legs. This blog explores what causes it, how to recognize it, and when to seek help from a spine specialist.

Key Takeaways:

• Common causes include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, cervical radiculopathy, and peripheral neuropathy.

• Symptoms may include radiating pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling in the limbs.

• Red flags include groin numbness, muscle weakness, or loss of bladder/bowel control—seek immediate care.

• Doctors often try conservative treatments like therapy and medication first.

• Endoscopic spine surgery may provide lasting relief without the need for spinal fusion.

Get expert care and explore minimally invasive solutions with Desert Spine & Scoliosis Center.

Everyone experiences nerve pain differently. For some, it feels like a dull ache. For others’ it’s more of a sharp, burning, or electric sensation. Regardless, nerve pain is never fun. 

Nerve pain coming from your back is the most common type, but it’s far from the only type. Nerve pain in the lower back can stay in that area. However, it often spreads to other areas.

This pain can move from the back or neck into the arms, legs, or buttocks. As a result, simple movements can become hard, making daily life frustrating. 

But what exactly causes nerve pain, and how do you know it’s time to seek out professional help for it? 

Let's look at the common causes. We will give you helpful tips to get the right treatment. This way, you can improve your quality of life! 

What Causes Nerve Pain?

The central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) make up the human nervous system. The CNS, which contains the spinal cord is often where nerve pain originates from. Nerve pain often spreads to the spinal nerves. These nerves come from the spinal cord. This happens because the CNS and PNS are connected. 

This is important to note because nerve pain can be caused by various conditions, some of which originate from the CNS and others of which originate from the PNS. These conditions include:

• A slipped disc, or herniated disc, happens when the soft inner part of a spinal disc pushes out. This can press on nearby nerves. This often results in sciatica, which is nerve pain originating in the lower back that extends down one or both legs.

• Narrowing of the Spinal Canal (Spinal Stenosis): This condition means the spinal passage gets smaller. This can press on the nerves inside. It primarily affects adults over the age of 60. Symptoms often include weak legs, a burning feeling, or numbness. These symptoms get worse when walking and improve when sitting or bending forward.

• Neck-Related Nerve Pain (Cervical Radiculopathy) happens when a nerve root in the neck is compressed. This is often due to a herniated disc or arthritis. The pain can spread into the shoulder, arm, or hand. Patients typically describe this as a sharp or burning discomfort, sometimes accompanied by numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness.

• Widespread Nerve Damage (Peripheral Neuropathy): This condition involves serious damage to peripheral nerves. It is often caused by diabetes, a lack of important vitamins, or exposure to harmful substances. It can cause burning, tingling, or sharp, stabbing pain in the feet, lower legs, or hands.

Less common causes of back and nerve pain include:

• Scar tissue following surgery

• Immune system disorders (autoimmune diseases)

• Traumatic spinal injuries

• Viral infections, such as shingles

• Nerve compression syndromes in the limbs

How Do I Know I Have Nerve Pain?

Nerve pain symptoms often include burning, stabbing, or electric-like feelings. You may also feel pain that spreads to your limbs. Additional symptoms include tingling, numbness, and weakness in the arms, hands, or legs. Pain frequently intensifies with movement, coughing, or sneezing.

When to See a Specialist

Minor or occasional nerve discomfort does sometimes resolve with rest and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. 

However, the following symptoms are red flags that require immediate assessment by a spine specialist:

• Pain lasting longer than two weeks

• Muscle weakness or loss of coordination

• Numbness in the groin area (saddle anesthesia)

• Loss of bowel or bladder control (This is a medical emergency that may signal cauda equina syndrome.)

• Difficulty sleeping or walking because of pain.

Experience Lasting Relief from Nerve Pain of the Back or Neck

If you’ve been suffering from nerve pain and are looking for relief, Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center can help! Particularly, if a doctor has told you that you need fusion, you should know that it might not be your only option. 

You might be a good candidate for endoscopic spine surgery. This is a minimally invasive method that provides relief without fusing vertebrae.

Learn more now by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Baig.