Nerve Damage Shouldn’t Be Ignored
- Posted on: Sep 15 2019
Our nerves are very sensitive, but this also makes them fragile and open to injury. Nerve damage can occur from prolonged compression, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome or in spinal stenosis; or from being over-stretched, cut, or as a side effect of diabetes, among other causes.
When a nerve is damaged, it can have different effects based on what type of nerve it is. Nerve injuries can block messages sent to the brain, which hinders the proper function of the muscles served by that nerve. They can create a loss of feeling in the served area. Damage can create burning or freezing types of pain.
At Los Angeles Nerve Institute, Dr. Seruya is a specialist in peripheral nerve surgery. These are the nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord. He cautions patients against assuming that nerve damage will simply heal itself. Reality is that a damaged nerve that could have been repaired with surgery, if left untreated for over 12 months, the damage can become permanent. And permanent nerve damage is the last thing you want.
Symptoms of nerve damage
With nerve damage, symptoms vary widely based on the type of nerve and the location. Dr. Seruya works with peripheral nerves. Here are the different symptoms of nerve damage for the different nerve types.
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
Symptoms can indicate damage to two or three nerve types, so it can be a combination of these symptoms.
What causes nerve damage?
There are over 100 different types of nerve damage. It’s estimated that 20 million Americans suffer from some type of peripheral nerve damage. These numbers increase as we enter middle age and beyond.
Don’t leave damage unchecked
Remember that peripheral nerves have the ability to regenerate, but if the nerve and the outer insulation are cut, Dr. Seruya needs to perform surgery to fix the nerve to regain function. Otherwise, the nerve in question will have permanent damage.
If you think you have nerve damage, don’t ignore it. Call Dr. Seruya at the Los Angeles Nerve Institute at (310) 423-2129.
Posted in: Nerve Damage
