What happens if a nerve is damaged




















If a nerve is severed by trauma, it needs immediate attention to surgically repair it. Again, this demands the expertise of a nerve specialist, such as Dr. To find the right nerve specialist to relieve your pain and possibly repair damaged nerves, you need to do some research. Repairing nerves involves intricate surgery, but it allows the nerve fibers to regenerate, returning function to the nerve.

We will discuss your needs and concerns, and determine your best course of action. Phone: We have three types of nerves: Autonomic nerves — These nerves control our background functions that are mostly involuntary: heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, temperature regulation, etc.

Motor nerves — These nerves control movements and actions by passing information from the brain and spinal cord to our muscles. Sensory nerves — These nerves relay information from the skin and muscles back to the spinal cord and to the brain.

These are the pain nerves. Autonomic nerve damage symptoms Bladder or bowel dysfunction Lightheadedness due to blood pressure changes Inability to sense chest pain Too much or too little sweat production Constipation. Motor nerve damage symptoms Weakness Muscle atrophy Twitching Paralysis. Sensory nerve damage symptoms Pain Sensitivity Tingling or prickling sensation Burning sensation Numbness.

The causes of nerve damage. Repetitive motion can also cause inflammation of surrounding tissues, leading to nerve compression and future damage. Diabetes — Up to 70 percent of people with diabetes suffer from nerve damage. Diabetic neuropathy can affect all three types of nerves. Cancer — Tumors may push against or crush nerves. Or they may create nutritional deficiencies that affect nerve function. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments can damage nerves.

Nutritional deficiencies — Deficiencies in certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12 can cause nerve damage. These can occur due to alcoholism or after gastric surgery. Can nerve damage be repaired? Does nerve damage heal on its own? What is a nerve graft? A nerve graft can allow the nerve to regenerate and return feeling to the area served by the nerve. However, it may lead to a loss of feeling in the area where the graft was taken from.

The good news is that nerve damage generally develops slowly, says Isha Gupta, M. Your best shot? See a doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms. This sensation is an early sign of nerve damage, and may radiate from your hands or feet into your arms or legs, per the U.

National Library of Medicine. Glenn Smith, M. If motor nerves are affected, then muscle weakness or even paralysis may occur, says Dr. A constant sharp pain, burning, or tingling that starts in the lower back and travels down the back of your leg could mean that you have sciatica. This happens when the sciatic nerve—which runs from your lower back, to your hips, and down your legs—becomes compressed or damaged, either by a herniated disk in your spine or by a disease such as diabetes.

Suddenly stumbling and falling a lot? The most common cause of nerve damage is diabetes. Another common cause of nerve damage is an inherited anatomical defect. Other possible causes of nerve damage include: repetitive motion, Lyme disease, sudden trauma, aging, vitamin deficiencies, exposure to toxins, infections, and autoimmune disorders.

In some cases, there may be no known cause of nerve damage. Some cases of nerve damage respond well to treatment if caught early. Most cases of nerve damage tend to progress slowly, meaning that there is a better chance of limiting the damage if it is caught early. However, the key to catching nerve damage early is to know what to look for. Therefore, here are 8 signs of possible nerve damage that warrant a visit to your doctor or local neurologist:.

Although these are technically three sensations, they are all closely related and are considered to be one symptom. When these sensations are prolonged, this could be a sign that there is something more going on. Most of us sweat from time to time during physical exertion or when the temperature rises.

At the same time, not sweating during physical exertion or periods of hot weather could also indicate possible nerve damage. When a particular body part is suddenly difficult or impossible to move, this could mean there is motor nerve damage.



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