What is the Best Painkiller for Nerve Pain?
Pain Medicine Physicians & Orthopedics in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City and West Orange, NJ
Jun 09, 2025
Nerve pain, also known as neuropathic pain, can feel like shooting, burning, or stabbing sensations and is often more severe and persistent than other types of pain. At Garden State Pain & Orthopedics, we understand how disruptive this pain can be to your daily life. Finding the best painkiller for nerve pain often requires a personalized approach, as the root causes and patient experiences vary widely.
Nerve pain arises when there is damage to the nerves themselves. This damage may result from conditions like diabetes, shingles, sciatica, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy, or trauma. It differs from musculoskeletal pain because it originates in the nervous system rather than in muscles or bones.
While most nerve pain requires prescription medication, some OTC options may help in mild cases or as part of a larger plan:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) – Helps relieve pain but does not reduce inflammation.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) – An anti-inflammatory that may offer modest relief for nerve pain caused by inflammation.
Topical creams – Capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches can be applied directly to the painful area.
For moderate to severe nerve pain, your doctor may recommend:
Antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, duloxetine) – These drugs alter chemical messengers in the brain and spinal cord, making them highly effective for chronic nerve pain.
Anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin, pregabalin) – Originally developed for epilepsy, these medications calm overactive nerves.
Opioids – These are rarely the first choice but may be used for short-term or severe pain under close supervision.
Topical lidocaine – Available in stronger doses than OTC patches, these can numb affected areas.
Painkillers alone are often not enough. Interventional procedures like nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulators, or physical therapy can enhance results.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Many patients at our practice find success with a combination of gabapentin or duloxetine and physical therapy. The “best” painkiller is the one that works best for your specific condition, under a tailored plan from our pain management team.
Yes! Many people assume that seeing a pain management physician automatically means being prescribed pain medications. But modern pain management offers many non-opioid, non-pharmaceutical options tailored to each patient’s condition and goals.
Here’s how you can avoid pain medication while still benefiting from a pain management physician:
Let your doctor know upfront that you want to avoid or minimize pain medication. Most physicians will respect this and customize a treatment plan accordingly.
Garden State Pain and Orthopedics' pain doctors offer non-opioid, minimally invasive procedures such as:
Epidural steroid injections
Nerve blocks
Radiofrequency ablation
Spinal cord stimulation trials
Kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty (for spinal compression fractures)
Percutaneous disc decompression
These options target the source of pain and often offer long-lasting relief.
Our pain physicians coordinate care with physical therapists. Exercise, stretching, and strengthening programs can reduce pain and improve function without any medication.
Considering integrating:
Acupuncture
Chiropractic care
Massage therapy
Mindfulness-based stress reduction or cognitive behavioral therapy
Things like weight loss, diet, posture correction, ergonomics, and sleep improvements can make a surprising impact on chronic pain levels.
If you do need some medication support, non-opioid options include:
Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
Muscle relaxants
Antidepressants (for nerve-related pain)
Topicals like lidocaine patches or capsaicin cream