Living with chronic pain—burning, tingling, numbness, or constant aching—can feel overwhelming and isolating. At Sharma Hand & Nerve in Boise, Dr. Ketan Sharma understands what you’re going through. As a board-certified hand and nerve surgeon, he’s committed to finding lasting solutions so you can get back to living fully.
What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is persistent discomfort that lasts for weeks, months, or even years, long after the original injury has healed. It may feel sharp, dull, throbbing, burning, or cause numbness and tingling. Unlike acute pain, which signals injury, chronic pain often has no clear cause and can interfere with your daily life, sleep, and emotional well-being. At Sharma Hand & Nerve, Dr. Sharma specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic nerve and hand pain with precision, helping patients find real relief and regain function when other treatments haven’t worked.
What are the signs & symptoms of chronic pain?
Chronic pain can look different for everyone, but it often disrupts your ability to work, sleep, or enjoy daily life. If you’ve been living with discomfort that won’t go away, your nerves may be the source. Common signs and symptoms of chronic pain include:
- Constant or recurring pain lasting more than 12 weeks
- Tingling, burning, or “pins and needles” sensations
- Numbness or loss of feeling in affected areas
- Muscle weakness or loss of coordination
- Sharp, shooting, or radiating pain
- Hypersensitivity to touch or temperature
- Pain that worsens with movement or activity
- Disrupted sleep or fatigue due to ongoing discomfort
What causes chronic pain?
Chronic pain often begins when nerves are damaged, compressed, or irritated, disrupting how signals are transmitted between the brain and the rest of the body. In many cases, the original injury may heal, but the nervous system remains overly sensitive or dysfunctional, causing persistent, often debilitating symptoms. Over time, the pain can spread, intensify, or become more unpredictable, impacting both physical ability and emotional health.
Several conditions can lead to chronic pain, including:
- Nerve compression in the neck, spine, or limbs
- Traumatic nerve injury from an accident or surgery
- Nerve degeneration due to age or repetitive stress
- Peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes or infection
- Entrapment syndromes like carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel
- Failed prior surgeries that left nerves damaged or irritated
- Nerve tumors or abnormal growths compressing nearby tissue
- Chronic inflammation from autoimmune or musculoskeletal disorders
- Scar tissue formation around nerves after surgery or trauma
- Repetitive motion injuries common in certain professions or sports
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following injury or surgery
- Idiopathic causes, where no clear underlying condition is found
What are the treatments for chronic pain?
At Sharma Hand & Nerve, Dr. Ketan Sharma begins with a thorough evaluation to identify the source of your pain, often using advanced diagnostics to assess nerve function, compression, or damage. Once he understands the root cause, he creates a personalized treatment plan tailored to your condition, symptoms, and lifestyle. His goal is not just to manage pain, but to restore function and improve your quality of life whenever possible.
Depending on your needs, treatment options may include:
- Nerve decompression to relieve pressure and restore function
- Nerve repair or grafting for injured or severed nerves
- Targeted nerve transfers to restore movement and sensation
- Joint denervation to interrupt pain signals at the source
- Neuroma excision to remove painful nerve scar tissue
- Tendon transfer to restore muscle control and reduce strain
- Peripheral nerve stimulation or reinnervation techniques
Why choose Dr. Sharma for chronic pain?
Dr. Ketan Sharma is a board-certified hand and nerve surgeon specializing in treating complex, long-standing nerve conditions that cause chronic pain. With advanced fellowship training and a focus on surgical nerve repair and restoration, he helps patients who’ve often been told nothing more can be done. At Sharma Hand & Nerve in Boise, he offers precise, highly specialized care with the goal of relieving pain and restoring function—not just managing symptoms.
Patients choose Dr. Sharma because of his:
- Expertise in nerve decompression and reconstruction
- Advanced microsurgical techniques for nerve repair
- Focus on outcomes that restore strength and sensation
- Compassionate, one-on-one care throughout your recovery
- Proven success with complex, previously untreated cases
If you’re living with chronic pain, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sharma to explore advanced solutions that can help you move forward and regain independence and mobility.
