Why It Happens — and How Interventional Pain Medicine Can Help

You expected surgery to bring relief. But weeks or even months later, you’re
still feeling sharp, burning, tingling, or electric pain around the surgical
area. This lingering discomfort is more common than most patients realize, and
in many cases, is caused by irritated, entrapped or injured nerves.

The good news: post-surgical nerve pain is treatable,
especially when diagnosed early. At UES Interventional Pain, we specialize in
identifying the exact source of neuropathic (nerve-related) pain and treating
it with precision-guided, minimally invasive procedures to help you heal and
return to your life.

What Is Post-Surgical Nerve Pain?

Post-surgical nerve pain—also known as
postoperative neuropathic pain—occurs when nerves are
irritated, inflamed, entrapped or damaged during or after a surgery. Unlike
typical incisional soreness, neuropathic pain is caused by disrupted nerve
signals, which can make the pain feel abnormal or exaggerated.

Patients often describe it as:

• Burning or tingling
• Electric shocks or zaps
• Shooting or stabbing pain
• Numbness combined with sharp pain
• Hypersensitivity around the incision

This type of pain can develop after many kinds of procedures, including
orthopedic, spine, hernia, breast, abdominal, or joint surgeries.

Why Does Nerve Pain Happen After Surgery?

There are several reasons nerve pain can persist after a procedure:

Normal Nerve Healing

• Nerves regenerate slowly. As they heal, they may misfire, causing temporary
  burning or zapping sensations.

Nerve Irritation or Inflammation

• Swelling after surgery can put pressure on nearby nerves, leading to
  lingering discomfort.

Scar Tissue (Adhesions)

• Scar tissue can surround or “tether” nerves, altering the way they move and
  transmit signals.

Direct Nerve Injury (Less Common)

• Incisions made near superficial or deep nerves can occasionally affect them,
  leading to neuropathic symptoms.

Central Sensitization

• In some cases, the body’s pain system becomes overly reactive after trauma
  or surgery, creating persistent, heightened pain responses.

Is This Normal? When Pain Becomes Concerning

Some discomfort after surgery is expected. However, nerve pain may be
concerning when:

• It lasts longer than 6–12 weeks
• It’s worsening instead of improving
• It feels electric, burning, or hypersensitive
• Pain limits your function, sleep, or ability to return to work
• You notice new numbness, shooting pain, or radiating symptoms

If you’re not sure whether your recovery is “on track,” an early evaluation
can prevent symptoms from becoming long-term.

How We Diagnose Post-Surgical Nerve Pain

At UES Interventional Pain, diagnosis starts with a detailed consultation to
understand your symptoms and surgical history. Because nerve pain is highly
specific, identifying the exact nerve involved is essential.

Our approach may include:

Comprehensive Physical Exam

• Assessing sensation, nerve patterns, and movement to pinpoint the affected
  area.

Ultrasound-Guided Evaluation

• Real-time imaging helps identify entrapped nerves, swollen tissues, or
  neuromas (overgrowth of nerve tissue).

Diagnostic Nerve Blocks

• A small amount of numbing medication is injected around a suspected nerve.
  If pain improves, we’ve identified the source — and can customize treatment
  accordingly.

Additional Imaging (Only When Needed)

• MRI or CT scans may be used to rule out structural issues, depending on the
  surgery.

This diagnostic process is minimally invasive and helps avoid unnecessary
tests or medications.

Effective Treatments for Post-Surgical Nerve Pain

Once we identify the cause, we create a tailored treatment plan using the most
appropriate, minimally invasive options.

Conservative Treatments

• Physical therapy to reduce stiffness and improve nerve mobility
• Desensitization therapy for hypersensitivity
• Medications for nerve pain (gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine)

Interventional Treatments (UES Pain Specialty)

These minimally invasive procedures target the exact nerves involved:

Image-Guided Nerve Blocks

• Reduce inflammation and calm irritated nerves. Often the first line of
  targeted treatment.

Trigger Point Injections

• Helpful when muscle tension contributes to neuropathic pain.

Epidural Steroid Injections

• Used when nerve pain is related to spine or radiating symptoms.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

• A precise technique that uses heat to quiet overactive nerves and provide
  long-lasting relief.

Peripheral Nerve Blocks

• Especially effective for nerve pain after hernia, breast, or joint
  surgeries.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS)

• A small device delivers gentle electrical pulses to interrupt pain signals.
  Excellent for chronic neuropathic pain that hasn’t responded to other
  treatments.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

• Used for severe, persistent pain—particularly after spine surgery (failed
  back surgery syndrome).

Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation

• A targeted therapy for severe, long-lasting nerve pain—especially effective
  for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) or persistent pain after surgery.

When to See a Pain Specialist

It may be time to consult a specialist if:

• Your pain persists beyond typical healing timelines
• Pain interferes with mobility, sleep, or daily activities
• The pain feels different from surgical soreness
• You’ve tried physical therapy or medications without improvement
• You’re concerned something “isn’t right” with your recovery

Early intervention often leads to better outcomes and prevents chronic pain
from becoming permanent.

Why Choose UES Interventional Pain

Dr. Matthew Spiegel is a board-certified interventional pain specialist with
extensive experience diagnosing and treating complex nerve pain.

Patients choose UES Interventional Pain because we offer:

• Personalized, compassionate care
• Precise, image-guided procedures
• Minimally invasive treatments
• A focus on restoring your function and quality of life
• Collaboration with surgeons, physical therapists, and other specialists

If pain after surgery is affecting your recovery, you don’t have to wait it
out. We can help you get back to moving and living with confidence.