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Nerve Damage

From controlling your muscles to sensing heat & cold to controlling everything your body does, everything is regulated by your nervous system.

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3 major types of nerves in human body

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Autonomic Nerves

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The purpose of these nerves is to control the partially voluntary or involuntary activities of your body, like digestion, blood pressure, heart rate and temperature regulation.

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Motor Nerves

 

The purpose of these nerves is to control your body movements & actions by forwarding information from spinal cord and brain to muscles.

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Sensory Nerves

 

The role of these nerves is to relay information from your muscles & skin back to your brain and spinal cord. This information is then processed to let you feel any kind of sensations and pain.

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The above mentioned information shows how nerves play an essential role in all body activities and any kind of nerve damage can have a serious effect on your overall quality of life.

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Symptoms

 

Nerve damage can occur to nerves in brain, spinal cord or even the peripheral nerves (that consist of the rest of your body).

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Autonomic Nerve Damage Symptoms

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  • Your body will be unable to sense chest pain as in the case of heart attack or angina

  • Hyperhidrosis (over-sweating) or anhidrosis (too less sweating)

  • Dry eyes & mouth

  • Lightheadedness

  • Constipation

  • Sexual dysfunction

  • Bladder dysfunction

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Motor Nerve Damage Symptoms

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  • Muscle atrophy

  • Weakness

  • Fasciculation (Twitching)

  • Paralysis

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Sensory Nerve Damage Symptoms

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  • Numbness

  • Sensitivity

  • Pain

  • Burning

  • Tingling/prickling

  • Problems related to positional awareness

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Diabetic Nerve Damage Treatment

 

People suffering from diabetes have a higher chance of experiencing nerve damage. It’s also known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It can be constant, severe & hard to treat.

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Diabetic peripheral neuropathy generally starts as a tingling feeling, leading to numbness & pain in the affected area. There are few key points that patients and caregivers should be aware of:

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  • Keep the overall blood sugar in control

  • Take all medications as prescribed by Doctor

  • Follow a routine of planned diet as advised

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Over-the-Counter (OTC) Pain Relievers

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Common pain relievers available on drugstore shelves along with some skin creams can help you soothe the pain. However, make sure to talk to your doctor before going ahead with any medications.

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NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

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These medicines reduce inflammation & relieve pain. Some of these medicines are even available without prescription such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), and naproxen (Naprosyn). However, NSAIDs are also known for heart attack & stroke risk, if taken in high doses.

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Acetaminophen

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These medicines relieve nerve pain without reducing inflammation. Taking these medications in more than recommended doses can lead to liver damage.

 

Capsaicin

 

It’s a natural ingredient found in chili peppers. This ingredient is thought to control substance P – a chemical that helps in sending pain signals from your nerves. Though it’s okay for short-term, it’s not suggested for long-term.

 

This is because the same nerves also play a crucial role in wound healing process which can lead to a major problem if you have diabetes.

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Some Other Treatments

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  • Injections of local anesthetics

  • Nerve compression can be relived through surgery

  • Device implant can be done to relieve pain

  • Aids like hand or foot braces can be used to help relieve nerve compression or muscle weakness

  • Use orthopedic shoes to improve walking problems and also prevent foot injuries

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Whatever the reason may be, nerve damage can be a serious and draining experience. Individuals suffering from it may often need prescription treatments and guidance from their doctors.

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