Feeling a weird burning or zapping pain that just won’t quit? It might be nerve pain—and physio can actually help more than you think. In this blog, we’ll unpack what nerve pain really is, why it happens, and how physiotherapy can play a powerful role in calming things down.

What is Nerve Pain?

Nerve pain (also known as neuropathic pain) is one of those things that can really throw people. It’s different from the dull ache of sore muscles or the sharp stab of a sprain. It’s more like a burning, tingling, zapping, or electric shock kind of sensation. Sometimes it feels like your skin is overly sensitive. Other times, it’s like pain is coming from nowhere.

The most confusing part? The pain doesn’t always start where the problem is. For example, someone might feel pain in their foot, but the real issue could be up near the lower back or hip where the nerve is getting irritated.

Common Causes of Nerve Pain

Nerves can become irritated, compressed, or inflamed for a variety of reasons. Here are a few of the more common ones we see in clinic:

Symptoms to Watch Out For

If you’ve got nerve pain, you might notice:

Symptoms often follow the path of the affected nerve—so the location of pain can help us figure out which nerve is involved.

The Science Behind It: Why Nerves Hurt

Nerves are like the body’s communication cables. When one gets irritated, it starts sending distress signals. But here’s the thing—those signals don’t always make sense. The brain might interpret them as burning, zapping, or hypersensitivity.

Once a nerve becomes “sensitised”, it can become more reactive. This means it starts firing off pain signals even when there’s no actual danger. It’s like your body’s alarm system getting stuck on high alert.

How Physiotherapy Can Help with Nerve Pain

You might not think of physio as the go-to treatment for nerve pain—but it absolutely can be.

Here’s how we help:

1. Identify the Source

We don’t just treat the pain—we track down where it’s coming from. That might mean testing nerve mobility, looking at posture, assessing joint movement, and checking muscle tension.

2. Nerve Glides and Mobilisations

These gentle movements help the nerve slide and move more freely through its pathway. Think of it like flossing for your nerves—helping reduce tension and irritation.

3. Addressing the Root Cause

If the nerve is irritated because of a stiff joint, tight muscle, or poor biomechanics, we’ll treat that directly. This might involve hands-on therapy, stretching, strengthening, or movement retraining.

4. Postural Advice

Sometimes a simple change in how you sit or move during the day can reduce nerve tension and stop flare-ups.

5. Exercise Programming

Gradual, targeted strengthening helps support the body and reduce risk of future flare-ups. Plus, movement helps desensitise the nervous system over time.

Real Life Example: The Mysterious Burning Foot

We recently had a patient come in with a burning pain in their foot. They thought they must’ve kicked something or bruised it, but couldn’t remember doing so. The pain was constant, especially after walking or standing for long periods. Shoes made it worse. They described it as “like fire ants crawling on my foot.”

Assessment

We ruled out common things like plantar fasciitis, fractures, and local trauma. On testing, there was no obvious injury to the foot muscles or joints. But when we assessed nerve tension, we found the sural nerve was extremely sensitive.

The sural nerve runs down the back and outer part of the leg and ends near the heel and foot. Interestingly, this nerve can become irritated not just at the foot, but higher up, especially where it branches from the sciatic nerve.

Treatment

We started treatment not at the foot—but up around the sciatic nerve. We used nerve mobilisation techniques, soft tissue work to reduce tension in the hamstrings and glutes, and added some nerve gliding exercises to do at home.

Within a few sessions, the patient started noticing the burning was easing. After a couple of weeks, they could wear shoes again without pain. The best part? No injections or medication were needed—just good old-fashioned physio and a targeted plan.

Different Nerves, Different Pains

Depending on which nerve is involved, you might feel symptoms in different places. Here are a few common ones:

NerveTypical Pain AreaCommon Cause
Sciatic NerveButtock, back of thigh, calfDisc herniation, piriformis syndrome
Tibial NerveBottom of foot, heelTarsal tunnel syndrome
Peroneal NerveOuter leg, top of footFibular head compression
Sural NerveOuter lower leg, footSciatic tension, tight calves
Median NerveThumb, index, middle fingersCarpal tunnel syndrome
Ulnar NerveRing and little fingerElbow compression (cubital tunnel)

Knowing which nerve is involved helps us choose the right treatments—and avoid chasing the wrong problem.

How Long Does Nerve Pain Take to Settle?

This depends on:

Some people feel relief in a few sessions. For others, especially if it’s been going on for months, it might take a bit longer. The key is consistency, patience, and not giving up.

What Can You Do At Home?

Here are a few self-care tips if you’re dealing with nerve pain:

When to See a Physio

If you’re experiencing:

…it’s time to book in.

We’ll do a thorough assessment, explain what’s going on in plain English, and put together a clear plan to help you feel normal again.

Final Thoughts

Nerve pain might feel scary and mysterious, but it’s often treatable without medication or surgery. Physiotherapists are trained to understand the nervous system, track down the source of your symptoms, and get you back to doing what you love.

Just like our patient with the burning foot—sometimes the pain is coming from somewhere you wouldn’t expect, and you just need the right treatment to unlock relief.

References

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Let us untangle your nerves (literally!).