Causes of nerve pain

Nerve pain happens when nerves are injured, squeezed, inflamed or affected by disease. Finding the cause guides treatment.

Metabolic and nutritional

• Diabetes: the most common cause worldwide, damaging nerves in the feet and hands over years
• Vitamin B12 deficiency, which is common in vegetarians and in people on long-term acid-reducing medicines or metformin
• Thyroid disease and kidney disease
• Excess alcohol

Pressure on a nerve

• Slipped disc or spinal narrowing, causing sciatica or arm pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome at the wrist
• Tumours or swelling near a nerve

Infection and inflammation

• Shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia
• Leprosy, HIV and some other infections
• Autoimmune disease such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis

Injury and surgery

Cuts, fractures, surgical nerve damage and amputation (phantom limb pain).

Medicines and toxins

Some cancer drugs, certain antibiotics, anti-TB drugs and heavy metals can damage nerves.