Early detection and timely treatment of nerve injury is crucial for the repair of nerve function. One week following a crush injury, heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is over-expressed along the entire length of the sciatic nerve. Herein, we present an approach to detect injured nerves by photoacoustic microscopy after labeling the injured nerve with HSP27 antibody-conjugated gold nanoparticles. The studies reveal that nanoprobe administration enabled the detection of injured nerves by photoacoustic microscopy, especially during the early stages within 3–7 days post injury. In conclusion, photoacoustic microscopy combined with antibody-conjugated nanoparticles holds potential for the early detection of nerve injury.