Disclosure: BDI.ie is run by the team behind Dr. Hemp Me and CBD Éire. Where we mention those brands, we have a commercial interest. More about who we are.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Nerves can be damaged in many ways: an accident, an operation, a shingles infection or cancer treatment. The pain that follows can be burning, shooting or electric, and it can last long after the original event. This guide explains how damaged nerves recover, treatments with evidence for different causes, rehabilitation, and an honest look at where CBD fits.
How nerves heal
Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord can regrow, but slowly, roughly a millimetre a day in good conditions, so recovery can take months. Some damage is permanent. During recovery, nerves can misfire, causing tingling, burning or electric shocks; this can be a sign of regrowth, but persistent severe pain needs medical review.
After an injury
Cuts, fractures, crush injuries and compression can damage nerves. Early assessment matters, as some nerve injuries need surgical repair. Hand therapy and physiotherapy help maintain movement and retrain sensation while nerves recover.
After surgery
Some people develop persistent pain after operations such as hernia repair, mastectomy, thoracic surgery or amputation, where nerves have been cut or stretched. If pain around a scar continues beyond the normal healing period, or feels burning or electric, tell your surgeon or GP; treatments for nerve pain and specialist pain services can help.
After shingles
Shingles can leave nerve pain called post-herpetic neuralgia in the area of the rash, more often in older adults. Starting antiviral treatment early in a shingles attack reduces the risk, so see a GP or pharmacist quickly if you develop a painful, one-sided rash. A shingles vaccine is available for older adults and some people with weakened immune systems; ask your GP or pharmacist whether you are eligible. Lidocaine plasters, capsaicin and nerve pain medicines can help established post-herpetic neuralgia.
After chemotherapy
Some chemotherapy drugs can cause chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: numbness, tingling and pain in the hands and feet. Tell your oncology team about any symptoms promptly, as they may adjust treatment. Symptoms often improve over months after treatment ends, though not always fully. The Irish Cancer Society provides free information and support through its Support Line and Daffodil Centres.
Treatments with evidence
- Nerve pain medicines such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, pregabalin or gabapentin, adjusted by your GP.
- Topical lidocaine plasters or capsaicin for localised pain.
- Physiotherapy, hand therapy and desensitisation techniques.
- Pain management programmes using CBT and pacing.
- Specialist pain clinic treatments for severe or persistent pain.
Where CBD fits
There is no good evidence that CBD supplements help nerve damage pain, and none can claim to. This matters especially for people having cancer treatment: CBD can interact with some chemotherapy and supportive medicines, so never take CBD during cancer treatment without talking to your oncology team first. For people recovering from injury or surgery, CBD can also interact with painkillers and add to drowsiness. Rehabilitation, appropriate medicines and time remain the foundations.
What the law in Ireland says
CBD oils, capsules and gummies are sold in Ireland as food supplements, overseen by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Food supplements are not allowed to claim to prevent, treat or cure any disease, so no CBD supplement can legally be sold as a treatment for nerve damage pain. Medicines are regulated separately by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), and cannabis-based medicines are available only on prescription in limited circumstances. If a seller tells you their CBD treats nerve damage pain, treat that as a warning sign about the business.
If you decide to try CBD
- Speak to your GP or pharmacist first, especially if you take any regular medication. CBD is processed in the liver and can change the levels of some medicines, including blood thinners, some anti-epileptic drugs, some antidepressants and sedatives.
- Keep your proven treatment going. CBD should sit alongside the care your doctor or physiotherapist recommends, never replace it.
- Choose a lab-tested product with an independent certificate of analysis, CBD stated in milligrams and THC not detected.
- Stay within the recommended daily serving on the label, and keep the amount steady for a few weeks rather than changing it daily.
- Keep a simple diary of symptoms, sleep, activity and what you took, so you can judge honestly with your doctor whether anything changed.
- Stop if you notice side effects such as drowsiness, stomach upset or appetite changes.
Choosing a CBD product
Oils give flexible amounts by the drop, capsules and gummies give a fixed amount, and creams or balms are applied to the skin as part of a massage routine. Whichever you choose, check for an independent lab report with a batch number that matches your product, a clear THC result, a full label and a seller with real contact details in Ireland or the EU. Our guide to the best CBD oil in Ireland explains each check, and CBD and pain: what the evidence says covers the wider research.
Safety
- CBD is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and CBD food supplements are not for children.
- Do not combine CBD with alcohol, and do not drive if it makes you drowsy.
- Do not apply creams to broken skin or wounds.
- Products containing THC can affect driving and drug tests. Only use products whose lab report shows THC is not detected.
Our position
BDI.ie is run by the team behind two Irish CBD brands, Dr. Hemp Me and CBD Éire. We sell CBD as a food supplement and we do not claim it treats nerve damage pain. If you live with nerve damage pain, the most useful thing you can do is get a clear diagnosis and a plan from your GP or physiotherapist. If you want to include CBD, do it with their knowledge and with realistic expectations.
Questions to ask your GP or physiotherapist
- What do you think is causing my nerve damage pain?
- Do I need any tests, and why or why not?
- What exercises or activities should I do, and what should I avoid for now?
- What pain relief is safe for me, alongside my other medicines?
- Is it safe for me to try CBD with the medicines I take?
- What signs mean I should come back sooner?
A simple four-week diary
Whatever you try for nerve damage pain, a short daily note makes it far easier to judge honestly. Each evening, score your nerve damage pain from 0 to 10, note your sleep, activity, any medicines or supplements taken and anything unusual about the day. After four weeks, look back with your GP or physiotherapist. Patterns often show up that memory alone would miss.
Desensitisation: retraining sensitive skin
When skin over a damaged nerve is very sensitive, a physiotherapist or hand therapist may suggest desensitisation: gently touching the area several times a day with textures that progress from soft (silk, cotton wool) to rougher (towel, velcro), and with light tapping or vibration. Over weeks, this can reduce sensitivity. Start with what you can tolerate and build up gradually.
Protecting numb areas
Where sensation is reduced, injuries can go unnoticed. Check the area daily, protect it from heat and sharp objects, test water temperature with an unaffected hand or elbow, and wear gloves or protective footwear as needed.
Recovery from nerve damage is often slow and uneven. Keeping a record of small improvements, such as a little more feeling or less night pain, helps you and your care team see progress that is easy to miss day to day.
Ask your team for help early rather than waiting.
Frequently asked questions
Does CBD help nerve damage pain?
There is no good evidence that CBD supplements help nerve damage pain, and none can claim to treat it.
Can I take CBD during chemotherapy?
Only after talking to your oncology team, as CBD can interact with some cancer treatments and supportive medicines.
How long does nerve damage take to heal?
Nerves regrow slowly, around a millimetre a day, so recovery can take months; some damage is permanent.
What is post-herpetic neuralgia?
Lasting nerve pain after shingles. Early antiviral treatment reduces the risk, and there are treatments for established pain.
Is tingling a sign nerves are healing?
It can be, but severe or worsening pain should be reviewed by a doctor.
Can surgery cause long-term nerve pain?
Sometimes. Tell your surgeon or GP if scar pain is burning, electric or persists beyond normal healing.
Where can I get support during cancer treatment in Ireland?
The Irish Cancer Society Support Line and Daffodil Centres, alongside your oncology team.
Is there a vaccine for shingles?
Yes. Ask your GP or pharmacist whether you are eligible.
Related guides
This guide is for general information only and is not medical advice. CBD products sold in Ireland are food supplements or cosmetics, not medicines. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before using CBD, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding.