If you’re recovering from surgery or dealing with chronic nerve pain, you may be familiar with sensations like burning, tingling, or skin sensitivity that just won’t go away. These symptoms often result from irritated or overactive nerves—and they don’t always respond well to traditional pain medications.
Fortunately, there are evidence-based desensitization techniques that can calm irritated nerves, reduce discomfort, and improve your quality of life. This guide walks you through proven treatments—both at-home and in-clinic—that can help retrain your nervous system and restore comfort.
Desensitizes overactive peripheral nerves by depleting substance P, a key chemical involved in transmitting pain signals. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of patients with diabetic neuropathy, 0.075% capsaicin cream applied three times daily led to significantly greater pain relief compared to placebo over an 8-week period.¹
How to Use:
Apply a small amount to the painful area 2–3 times per day. Expect a warm or tingling sensation at first — this usually fades with regular use. Avoid eyes and wash hands thoroughly after application.
Reduces inflammation in superficial tissues and joints, which can help settle nerve irritation caused by post-surgical swelling. In a crossover trial involving patients with CRPS and postherpetic neuralgia, 1.5% diclofenac gel produced a reduction in both overall pain (VAS decrease of 0.8) and burning pain (1.4 points) within two weeks.²
How to Use:
Rub a thin layer of gel into the affected area up to 4 times daily. Do not apply to broken skin or combine with other NSAIDs unless directed by a physician.
CBD interacts with TRPV1 and CB2 receptors, helping to reduce nerve excitability and inflammation. In early-phase human studies, topical cannabidiol showed meaningful improvements in neuropathic pain scores without central side effects.³ I recommend Corganics brand, as it is completely THC-free and will not cause sedation or other cognitive side effects.
Use provider code: STEFANSKI
How to Use:
Apply to the affected area once or twice daily. Ideal before bed or after physical activity. Avoid applying to open wounds.
Temporarily numbs hypersensitive nerves and calms superficial inflammation. It’s especially helpful for early post-op burning or flaring nerve sensations. Though formal trials are limited, ice massage is widely supported in sports and surgical rehab for immediate short-term relief.⁴
How to Use:
Use an ice cube wrapped in a soft cloth or towel. Gently massage the area in circles for 5–10 minutes, up to 3 times daily. Never apply ice directly to the skin without a barrier.
Optional Tools:
There are many ice massage rollers available that make this easier and more convenient. These tools hold cold for longer and let you massage without holding direct ice.
Recommended Products:
❄️ Arctic Flex Ice Cups & Roller – Budget-friendly molded silicone for targeted icing
Supports nerve repair through a blend of B1, B6, B12, and alpha-lipoic acid — all of which have shown positive effects in nerve recovery. Clinical studies in patients with diabetic neuropathy demonstrated reduced burning, tingling, and improved nerve conduction after supplementation.⁵
How to Use:
Take one tablet daily with food. For best results, continue use consistently for 6–8 weeks or longer.
A TENS unit delivers low-voltage electrical pulses that disrupt abnormal pain signals. Meta-analyses have shown that TENS therapy significantly improves pain levels in patients with nerve pain, including after surgery.⁶
How to Use:
Place the TENS electrode pads around the painful area. Run a session for 20–30 minutes, once or twice a day. Adjust intensity to comfort. Avoid use near the heart or over implanted devices unless cleared by a physician.
Recommended Devices:
Many TENS units appear similar online, but quality and effectiveness vary. These are the two models I personally recommend based on strong reviews, real patient experience, and reliable performance:
Budget Option: AUVON Rechargeable TENS Unit – 24 Modes, 8 Pads
A versatile and user-friendly option ideal for first-time users, with multiple programs and reusable pads included.
Premium Option: iReliev TENS + EMS Combo Unit (FDA Cleared)
Offers both TENS pain relief and EMS muscle recovery programs — excellent for long-term use and trusted by many clinicians.
Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce systemic inflammation and may improve nerve healing. Alpha-lipoic acid, a potent antioxidant, has been shown to improve nerve conduction and reduce burning pain in several clinical trials.⁷
How to Use:
Take omega-3 and/or alpha-lipoic acid supplements once daily with food. Look for high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade formulations. Speak to your provider before combining with other medications.
Exposure therapy retrains the brain’s pain response using soft textures, light stimulation, or mirror therapy. In randomized controlled trials of CRPS and post-operative nerve pain, graded motor imagery and sensory re-education led to improved limb function and reduced pain intensity.⁸
How to Use:
Use a soft cloth or brush to lightly stimulate the painful area for 3–5 minutes daily. You can also try mirror therapy or mobile apps that guide graded motor imagery exercises.
Morning: Nervive + CBD cream
Midday: Ice massage + soft brushing
Evening: Capsaicin cream + TENS session
Night: Light stretching or mirror therapy
Consistency matters. Nerve desensitization is a process, not a one-time fix. Stick with it, and you may see meaningful improvement over time.
If conservative treatments fail to provide lasting relief, more advanced options like radiofrequency nerve ablation or peripheral nerve stimulators may be appropriate. Nerve ablation uses targeted heat to temporarily deactivate overactive pain fibers, offering relief that can last for several months. Peripheral nerve stimulators, on the other hand, are small implanted devices that send gentle electrical pulses to interrupt chronic pain signals at their source. These interventions are typically reserved for patients with persistent nerve pain after surgery or trauma and are supported by clinical studies showing meaningful improvements in pain and function. A pain management specialist can help determine if you’re a candidate for these advanced therapies.⁹
Low PA, McLeod JG, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of capsaicin cream in diabetic neuropathy. Arch Neurol. 1992;49(1):12–16.
Ahmed SU, et al. Topical diclofenac for neuropathic pain: crossover trial in CRPS and postherpetic neuralgia. Anesthesiology. 2015;122(3):1233–1241.
Xu DH, Cullen BD, Tang M, Fang Y. The effectiveness of topical cannabidiol oil in symptomatic relief of peripheral neuropathy. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2020;21(5):390–402.
Knight KL. Effects of ice massage on pain and local circulation. J Athl Train. 1995;30(2):112–114.
Ziegler D, Hanefeld M, Ruhnau KJ, et al. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Diabetes Care. 1995;18(8):1160–1167.
Johnson MI, Walsh DM. A meta-analysis of TENS for acute and chronic pain. Physiotherapy. 2010;96(4):255–263.
Papanas N, Ziegler D. Efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid in diabetic neuropathy. Treat Endocrinol. 2006;5(3):135–144.
Moseley GL. Graded motor imagery is effective for long-standing CRPS: a randomized controlled trial. Pain. 2004;108(1–2):192–198.
Deer TR, Pope JE, Hayek SM, et al. The efficacy and safety of peripheral nerve stimulation for the treatment of chronic pain: A review of the literature. Pain Med. 2020;21(Suppl 1):S217–S226. doi:10.1093/pm/pnaa108
