When pain persists after a technically successful surgery, the source is often the nerves themselves, not the structure that was operated on. At PHI in Beverly Hills, board-certified physicians Dr. Faisal Lalani and Dr. Nadiv Samimi treat post-surgical nerve pain with targeted nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and peripheral nerve stimulation, because additional surgery often does not help.
When the Surgery Was Supposed to Fix the Pain
Most patients undergo surgery hoping to eliminate their pain, and for many it works as planned. For others, something else happens. The original problem is gone, the surgery was technically successful, the imaging looks fine, but a new kind of pain has appeared: burning sensations along the surgical site, electric shocks that come without warning, numbness in some areas combined with hypersensitivity in others, sleep disrupted because no position is comfortable.
This is post-surgical nerve pain. It is different from the pain you had before surgery, and it requires different treatment. Most importantly, additional surgery often does not help, because the underlying issue is no longer in the structure that was operated on. It is in the nerves themselves. What we offer is comprehensive evaluation and access to the specific treatments that target nerve dysfunction directly.
Why Nerve Pain Develops After Surgery
Surgery, by its nature, involves cutting through tissue, and even with careful technique this can affect nerves in several ways. Direct nerve injury can occur from cutting, retraction, or stretching; most heal completely, some do not. Scar tissue can develop in the months after surgery, sometimes compressing nerves that were not affected during the procedure. Nerve sensitization can develop when pain signals continue for weeks or months, with the nervous system maintaining pain signaling even after the original tissue has healed. And a neuroma can form when a small cut nerve regenerates abnormally into a painful bundle. Many patients have multiple contributing factors at once.
Common patterns include burning or electric pain at the surgical site, pain radiating along specific nerve distributions, sensitivity to light touch, numbness combined with pain, pain that does not respond to standard pain medications like NSAIDs, and pain that worsens with certain movements. Specific examples include persistent pain after hernia repair, post-mastectomy pain syndrome, post-thoracotomy pain, post-knee-replacement nerve pain involving the genicular nerves, and post-spine-surgery nerve pain.
How PHI Treats Post-Surgical Nerve Pain
The first step is comprehensive evaluation: a detailed history of your surgery and how the nerve pain developed, an examination assessing the patterns and distributions of your pain, review of your imaging and prior workup, and identification of which specific nerves are likely involved.
Targeted nerve blocks can both diagnose and treat; a successful diagnostic block confirms which nerve is producing your pain, and many patients experience meaningful relief from the block itself. Radiofrequency ablation is appropriate for selected patients whose pain is driven by specific identifiable nerves, providing longer-lasting relief after a successful diagnostic block, particularly relevant for post-knee-replacement genicular pain. Peripheral nerve stimulation is one of the most clinically interesting options; the 60-day Sprint temporary system has FDA clearance specifically for post-surgical pain, and clinical trials have shown sustained relief well beyond the active stimulation period for many patients. PHI performs these procedures in our affiliated surgical suite, and coordinates with your surgeon when surgical re-evaluation genuinely makes sense.
When to See Someone
Consider professional evaluation when pain at or near a surgical site has lasted longer than expected (typically more than three to six months post-surgery), when the pain has nerve-like qualities such as burning, electric, or shooting sensations, when your surgeon has confirmed the surgery was successful and imaging is normal, when standard pain medications have not helped, or when you feel stuck between providers without a clear plan.
Seek prompt evaluation for new onset of severe pain at the surgical site, signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, fever), or new significant neurological symptoms such as significant weakness or loss of bladder or bowel function.
Why PHI for Post-Surgical Nerve Pain
Two board-certified pain physicians
Dr. Faisal Lalani and Dr. Nadiv Samimi both trained in interventional pain at Cedars-Sinai, with specific experience in post-surgical nerve pain across various surgical types.
Surgical suite
All injections and procedures are performed by PHI physicians in our affiliated surgical suite at 455 N Roxbury Drive, Suite B.
Peripheral nerve stimulation expertise
PHI offers the 60-day Sprint temporary peripheral nerve stimulation system, FDA-cleared for post-surgical pain. PNS is particularly valuable because post-surgical pain typically has a focal nerve distribution that responds well to targeted stimulation.
Diagnostic-first approach
Many post-surgical nerve pain patients have not been thoroughly re-evaluated since their original procedure. We take time to identify which specific nerves are involved.
Honest framing
Some post-surgical nerve pain responds dramatically to specific interventions; some is more challenging. We are frank about realistic expectations, and we coordinate surgical re-evaluation when it genuinely makes sense.
Concierge, coordinated care
Single-physician continuity from consultation through treatment and return to activity. Patients receive clear guidance and transparent pricing at consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is not fully understood. Research has identified factors including the type of surgery, severity of pre-surgical pain, and individual nervous system characteristics. Post-surgical nerve pain develops in a small but real percentage of patients regardless of how well the surgery was performed; it is not generally a sign of surgical error.
Usually not. Post-surgical nerve pain typically involves nerve injury or sensitization, not the underlying structural problem the original surgery addressed. Additional surgery often does not help and sometimes worsens the situation. There are exceptions, such as a significant neuroma or hardware compressing nerves, but most responds better to interventional treatments that target the nerves directly.
Clinical trials of the 60-day temporary peripheral nerve stimulation system have shown meaningful pain reduction with sustained benefit beyond the active stimulation period for many patients. PNS is one of the most evidence-supported treatments for post-surgical nerve pain.
Surgeons typically focus on whether the surgery was technically successful and the original problem addressed. They are often less equipped to evaluate persistent nerve pain after a successful surgery. Interventional pain physicians specialize in identifying and treating these specific patterns.
This varies. Some resolves over months as healing progresses; some persists indefinitely without treatment. Earlier treatment of persistent post-surgical nerve pain often produces better outcomes than waiting, because the longer pain persists, the more nervous system sensitization can develop.
PHI treats post-cancer-surgery nerve pain such as post-mastectomy and post-thoracotomy pain, and coordinates with oncology teams when appropriate. Persistent nerve pain after cancer surgery is increasingly recognized as a treatable condition rather than something patients should expect to live with.
Many patients can reduce or eliminate the need for chronic pain medications when interventional treatments address the underlying source. The goal is the right level of medication for your specific situation.
Insurance coverage and payment options may vary. Please contact our office to discuss your specific plan, available options, and pricing.
Yes. PHI regularly treats patients from outside Los Angeles, including Las Vegas, Palm Springs, London, and other international locations.
Treatments We Offer for Post-Surgical Nerve Pain
PHI offers evidence-based treatments specifically for post-surgical nerve pain. Your physician will recommend the right option, or combination, based on the type of surgery you had, the pattern of your nerve pain, and your treatment history.
- Nerve Blocks, diagnostic and therapeutic
- Radiofrequency Ablation, for pain driven by specific identifiable nerves
- Peripheral Nerve Stimulation, the 60-day Sprint temporary system
Schedule Your Post-Surgical Nerve Pain Consultation
A 60-minute consultation will identify which specific nerves are involved, walk through the treatment options that match your situation, and give you a clear plan. Call (310) 856-9488 or book online now.