What you may feel
- Burning or shooting pain persisting after injury in a nerve territory.
- Tingling, numbness or pins and needles may occur.
- Clothing contact or light touch may provoke pain.
- Nerve stretch or certain movements may aggravate symptoms.
- Depending on the injury, weakness or movement difficulty may occur.
How it is assessed
Assessment considers the injury mechanism, the nerve involved and recovery over time.
Bring the operation or injury date, discharge information and recovery history. Explain whether pain is new, worsening or gradually improving.
Approaches to care
Rehabilitation is adapted to nerve function and combined with pain management. New or increasing weakness needs prompt assessment.
Coordinate the next steps with your surgeon’s restrictions. Record activities you can now manage and symptoms that still limit recovery.
When to seek urgent help
Wound redness or discharge, fever, rapidly worsening pain or new weakness need prompt assessment. Sudden breathlessness or chest pain requires emergency care.
Further reading: UChicago Medicine
This is educational information and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Similar symptoms alone do not establish a diagnosis.