Common symptoms of nerve disorders
- Loss of feeling or numbness
- Tingling/pins and needles
- Hypersensitivity
- Burning/pain
- Muscle weakness
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Disease
A variety of different ailments can progressively worsen nerve pain and nerve disorders, such as cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. Specific examples include diabetic neuropathy.
Overuse
Chronic compression or heavy labor with vibratory tools can lead to nerve symptoms. This can cause pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and even paralysis. For example, biking long distances can cause nerve damage in your hands and even “handlebar palsy.”
Trauma or injury
Any time a nerve undergoes sudden compression or severe stress, nerve pain and disorders can occur. This can occur in the neck or back after an accident or head trauma, in the brachial plexus region from severe stretching, or in the arm or leg from direct impact on a nerve. Nerves can also be damaged from complications during surgery.
Compression
The most common nerve disorders occur from nerves being compressed along the course of their anatomy. This can occur as high up at their origin in the neck or back from a disc herniation or arthritis narrowing the space for the nerve. It can occur in the wrist from compression at the carpal tunnel due to chronic overuse, pregnancy, arthritis, diabetes, swelling, or other conditions. Any nerve in your body can experience problems.
Diagnosis of nerve disorders
When you visit us for your initial appointment, your doctor will go over your medical history, get a better understanding of your symptoms, and ask about any accidents or previous surgeries. Next, your doctor will conduct a physical and neurological examination to get a better understanding of your unique situation and the extent of the injury. If your doctor notices a nerve disorder, they may recommend diagnostic tests to confirm this. This may range from X-rays to evaluate for arthritis or a deformity contributing to a nerve disorder, MRIs, or electrodiagnostic testing to localize and/or evaluate the extent of nerve damage.
Steps to diagnosis
- Discussion
- Physical exam
- Imaging
- Diagnostics
What are my options?
Non-Surgical
If your nerve does not have severe damage, surgery won’t be necessary. Rest, physical/occupational therapy, and time can help your nerve recover. Depending on the type and severity of your nerve injury, your doctor may prescribe specific medications to relieve your nerve symptoms. In some cases, corticosteroid injections may be administered. Acute nerve injuries can take 6 months to 2 years to resolve or reach a plateau in recovery.
Surgical
If your nerve disorder does not seem to be healing properly with non-surgical treatments or is severe enough at its onset, surgery may be necessary. Surgery typically involves alleviating compression on the nerve by releasing tight tissue. In the case of a severed nerve, the nerve should be repaired as soon as possible to maximize recovery. Most patients will experience some immediate recovery after surgery unless it is for a severed nerve or nerve that is severely damaged. In some instances the nerve may not be salvageable, in which case our nerve experts may recommend a tendon or nerve transfer or graft to restore lost function/strength.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect after my nerve procedure?
While every surgery is different, a successful procedure should reduce or eliminate pain over time. If your nerve is reconstructed, however, the return normal nerve functions and sensations can take several months and can feel a little strange at first. You might notice sensitivity, little shocks, aching, or tingling during the first six months after surgery. These symptoms typically go away within 12 months.
How can I prevent nerve disorders?
To prevent nerve disorders, it is important to stretch and stay active. You should avoid chronic pressure points on any part of your body by changing positions frequently and using padding/gloves. Eating a healthy diet with adequate vitamin B12 and avoiding excess alcohol can help keep your nerves healthy.
