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Vascular Pain vs. Nerve Pain: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Posted by:

Johannes Sauer

Reviewed by:

Jennie Stanford

Updated at: March 28, 2025

Table of Contents

  1. What is Vascular Pain?

    1. What Causes Vascular Pain?

  2. What is Nerve Pain?

    1. What Causes Nerve Pain?

  3. What Causes Circulatory Pain?

  4. The Risks of Not Treating Nerve Pain or Vascular Pain

Two common types of pain that you may experience in your lifetime are vascular pain and nerve pain. Nerve pain comes from issues affecting your nerves, while vascular pain originates from blood flow issues.

This post will explain how these two different types of pain compare and contrast in terms of causes and symptoms. This may help you understand what type of pain you are experiencing.

What is Vascular Pain?

Vascular pain sensations may be described as aching, throbbing, or heavy. While it may be experienced in different parts of the body, it is most commonly in the legs. Walking can intensify it. You could also experience numbness, tingling, or weakness. 

The pain can be mild, moderate, or severe, and it can sometimes be debilitating. It may be acute or chronic.

Some patients may also have cold extremities, issues with wounds not healing, swelling, or fingers or toes turning unusual colors.


What Causes Vascular Pain?

Sep 24, 2024

Patients experience vascular pain when blood cannot reach an organ, tissue or nerves. Here are some of the conditions that can cause vascular pain:

  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Diabetes
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon
  • Varicose veins

What is Nerve Pain?

Nerve pain is pain that results from damage to the nerves. It is also referred to as “neuropathic” pain. Some words that can describe nerve pain include stabbing, shooting, burning, or sensations similar to electric shocks. It often has a “sharp” quality.

Like vascular pain, nerve pain can be accompanied by sensations such as tingling or numbness. Patients may also experience pins and needles. 

Nerve pain can be mild, moderate, severe, or debilitating. It can be acute or chronic (that said, nerve injuries usually take a long time to heal).

What Causes Nerve Pain?

Nerve pain can have a wide range of causes. Some of them are diseases, while others are not. Here are some examples:

  • Diabetes
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Facial nerve disorders
  • Alcohol use disorder
  • Shingles
  • Complex regional pain syndrome
  • Shingles
  • Injuries
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Tumors
  • Nerve compression
  • Nerve inflammation
  • Amputation that causes phantom limb pain
  • Damage to nerves from surgeries 

Whether you have vascular pain, nerve pain, or both, your doctor will need to thoroughly review your medical history and sometimes conduct additional tests in order to determine the underlying cause(s) of your pain. Once the cause of the pain is established, your doctor will be able to help you design a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual condition.

What Causes Circulatory Pain?

Circulatory pain occurs when blood flow to a body part is reduced or blocked, causing discomfort as tissues don't receive enough oxygen and nutrients. It typically feels like aching, cramping, or throbbing that worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Common in the legs, it often causes claudication—pain when walking that eases after stopping. Unlike neuropathic pain (which feels like burning, electric shocks, or pins and needles), circulatory pain relates directly to exertion and position. It's frequently associated with peripheral artery disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, or deep vein thrombosis.

The affected area may appear pale, feel cool to touch, or show delayed capillary refill. If you experience these symptoms, medical evaluation is important as circulatory problems can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

The Risks of Not Treating Nerve Pain or Vascular Pain

If you do not treat vascular or nerve pain, a number of complications are possible. For starters, you could continue to experience your symptoms. They may also get worse, further eroding your quality of life and reducing your ability to function independently.

For another thing, if you fail to treat your underlying condition, that condition may continue to get worse, which could cause other problems for your health. In some cases, underlying conditions causing vascular or nerve pain could be life-threatening.

Sometimes people who do not treat neuropathy affecting their feet and legs may find it increasingly challenging to walk. A condition called foot drop can develop, which makes it hard to lift the front parts of the feet. This results in an unnatural gait where the feet drag along the ground. Slips and falls become more common.

The Cadense Original Adaptive Shoe for men and women help to prevent trips and falls by allowing the wearer’s feet to “glide” across uneven surfaces. What makes this possible is the patented variable friction technology in the shoes. 

These shoes can make walking safer and more comfortable for as long as neuropathy lasts. See our full collection of shoes for neuropathy. 

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FAQ

How to tell the difference between poor circulation and neuropathy?

There are differences in the character of nerve pain vs. vascular pain, as well as other symptoms and potential causes. Read through our full post above to learn more.

What is often mistaken for neuropathy?

Some conditions that are common mistaken for neuropathy include radiculopathy, fibromyalgia and other types of pain (i.e. vascular or muscular pain).

What stops nerve pain immediately?

There is no sure-fire way to stop nerve pain quickly, or at all. Lidocaine may work for mild nerve pain. Some people get relief from nerve blocks or medications. Surgery exists to decompress nerves, but it is high in risk.

Posted by: Johannes Sauer

Johannes is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cadense and passionate about helping people with walking difficulties. Johannes is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cadense and passionate about helping people with walking difficulties. He was immediately drawn to the mission of the company because his cousin lost his lower leg in a tragic motorcycle accident a few years ago and is experiencing walking difficulties ever since. Johannes brings over a decade of experience in working for consumer product companies to Cadense. He holds an MBA from the University of Graz in Austria. Johannes lives with his family in Santa Barbara, CA.

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Reviewed by: Jennie Stanford

Dr. Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM, is a highly accomplished physician who has made significant contributions to the fields of obesity medicine and metabolic health. Her expertise and dedication to patient care have earned her a reputation as a leading authority in these areas. Dr. Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM, is a highly accomplished physician who has made significant contributions to the fields of obesity medicine and metabolic health. Her expertise and dedication to patient care have earned her a reputation as a leading authority in these areas. After obtaining her Doctor of Medicine degree from the prestigious University of Mississippi Medical Center, Dr. Stanford went on to achieve board certification from both the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Stanford is a prolific medical writer and educator. She leverages her expertise to create informative and engaging content that educates both healthcare professionals and the general public about the latest advances in obesity medicine and metabolic health. Her written works, which include articles, blog posts, and educational materials, have been widely published and have helped to raise awareness about the importance of preventing and treating obesity and related metabolic disorders. As a recognized leader in her field, Dr. Jennie Stanford continues to advance the understanding and treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders. Her tireless efforts to educate, mentor, and provide exceptional patient care serve as an inspiration to her colleagues and a testament to her commitment to improving the lives of those affected by these conditions.

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