By Qineng Tan, L.Ac., Ph.D. and Xiaomei Cai, L.Ac., Ph.D.
Struggling with sharp, burning, or tingling pain? Do your hands or feet feel numb or hypersensitive? Nerve pain—also called neuropathic pain—can be relieved with acupuncture treatment and other TCM modalities.
Nerve pain occurs when nerves are damaged or dysfunctional, sending incorrect pain signals to the brain. Unlike pain caused by injury or inflammation, nerve pain can persist without an obvious cause and may not respond well to common pain relievers.
Nerve pain can interfere with your ability to work, sleep, or enjoy your day-to-day life. The good news is that acupuncture can be an effective way to treat nerve pain.
What Causes Nerve Pain?
There are many possible underlying conditions that can lead to nerve pain. Here are some of the 10 most most common causes of nerve pain:
- Peripheral neuropathy – often due to diabetes, chemotherapy, or alcohol use
- Trigeminal neuralgia – intense facial pain due to nerve irritation
- Occipital neuralgia – shooting pain at the back of the head and neck
- Cervical radiculopathy – pinched nerves in the neck causing radiating pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – pressure on the median nerve in the wrist
- Spinal stenosis or Lumbar stenosis – narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses nerves
- Sciatica – pain radiating down the leg due to sciatic nerve irritation
- Postherpetic neuralgia – lingering nerve pain after shingles
- Dystonia and other movement disorders – can involve nerve dysfunction
- Multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases – affecting nerve conduction
Medical Treatment for Nerve Pain
In Western medicine, the diagnostic process for nerve pain typically begins with a detailed health history and physical examination, focusing on neurological function. Physicians may conduct reflex tests, strength assessments, and evaluate your sensory response. Imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans can help identify structural causes like herniated discs or spinal stenosis. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) may be used to assess how well the nerves and muscles are functioning.
Once nerve pain is diagnosed, treatment often involves medications aimed at disrupting the abnormal pain signals. Doctors may prescribe anticonvulsant drugs like gabapentin or pregabalin, which were originally developed to treat epilepsy but are now commonly used to relieve nerve pain.
Certain antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or duloxetine, are also frequently used—not for their mood-enhancing effects, but because they influence how the nervous system processes pain. In some cases, opioids may be prescribed, though they are generally considered a last resort due to the risk of dependence and side effects.
Topical treatments like lidocaine patches or capsaicin cream may offer localized relief for some people. Corticosteroid injections may be recommended if inflammation is contributing to nerve compression, such as in cases of radiculopathy or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Physical therapy can be useful for improving strength, mobility, and nerve function, especially when musculoskeletal imbalances are part of the problem. In more severe cases—such as when a nerve is severely compressed or damaged—surgical intervention may be considered.
While these treatments can sometimes provide temporary relief, they may not address the root cause of nerve dysfunction. Additionally, many patients find that medications come with undesirable side effects or offer only partial relief. That’s why more and more people are turning to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a complementary or alternative solution for managing nerve pain holistically.
Can Acupuncture Help Nerve Pain?
In the Western medical model, nerve pain—also called neuropathic pain—is typically understood as the result of damage or dysfunction within the nervous system. This could be due to injury, chronic conditions like diabetes, infections such as shingles, or musculoskeletal issues like spinal stenosis or herniated discs.
TCM, on the other hand, views nerve pain through a holistic lens, focusing on the flow of energy—known as Qi—through the body’s channels or meridians. In this system, pain is often caused by Qi and blood stagnation, which leads to blockages along these pathways. This stagnation can arise from a deficiency in the liver or kidney systems, which in TCM are believed to support and nourish the body’s nerves.
External influences like wind, cold, or dampness may also disrupt the body’s internal balance, leading to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or sharp, radiating pain. Instead of targeting only the site of discomfort, TCM aims to correct underlying imbalances and restore smooth, harmonious flow throughout the body.
Treatment for nerve pain in TCM often involves acupuncture to stimulate specific points that promote circulation and healing. Herbal medicine is frequently used in combination, with formulas designed to nourish blood, strengthen the liver and kidneys, and dispel pathogenic factors. Other traditional therapies, such as moxibustion (a warming technique using mugwort) or cupping, may be applied to enhance circulation and relieve tension. TCM practitioners also offer guidance on diet, lifestyle, and emotional health to support the body’s natural healing processes and prevent further pain episodes.
A 2023 meta-analysis of 16 studies involving over 1,000 patients with neuropathic pain found that acupuncture significantly reduced pain intensity compared to sham or no treatment.
Acupuncture can modulate receptors and ion channels in peripheral nerves, reducing spontaneous nerve activity that leads to pain.
Studies have shown that acupuncture stimulates the release of neurotrophic factors like nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which support nerve regeneration and repair.
Acupuncture Near Me for Nerve Pain in West Los Angeles
If you’re struggling with nerve pain and looking for a natural, holistic approach to healing, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine may offer the relief you’ve been hoping for. At Art of Wellness Acupuncture in West Los Angeles, we specialize in helping patients manage complex, chronic pain conditions by addressing the root causes—not just the symptoms. Whether your nerve pain stems from an injury, a chronic condition, or something undiagnosed, we’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that supports your body’s natural healing processes. Don’t let nerve pain control your life—reach out today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward lasting relief.
*This article is for education from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine only. The education provided by this article is not approved by FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure human diseases. It should not stop you from consulting with your physician for your medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on Qi, which is an invisible force that usually cannot be observed by modern science. Because science focuses on testing ideas about the natural world with evidence obtained through observation, these aspects of acupuncture can’t be studied by science. Therefore acupuncture and Chinese herbs are often not supported by double-blind, randomized trials, and they are considered alternative medicine therapies in the United States.
