Will damaged nerves ever heal?

You may need to rest the affected area until it heals. For effective Neuropathy Treatment near North Arlington TX, it is important to note that nerves recover slowly and maximum recovery may take many months or several years. Nerves, if injured, will regenerate at all times and at any age. They will grow again, but not immediately or with the same capacity they had before. Timely diagnosis and treatment provide the best chance of recovery from this injury.

Physicians are likely to recommend physical therapy for minor spinal accessory nerve injuries. Surgery may be necessary for more serious injuries and may include nerve grafting, nerve regeneration, or the transfer of tendons or muscles. In people with peripheral neuropathy, that tingling sensation along with pain, burning, numbness, and other uncomfortable sensations don't go away as easily. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are not a response to a temporary lack of blood supply and pressure, but rather to nerve injury or irritation.

Depending on the nerves affected and the magnitude of the problem, muscles may weaken and, over time, atrophy. And if the nerves of the autonomic nervous system are affected, basic functions, such as bladder and bowel control, can be affected and the consequences can be even more serious. The analogy isn't perfect and it's not original, but one way to quickly understand neuropathy is to think of the peripheral nervous system as a complicated system of connections that carries messages to and from the brain and spinal cord. The living cables of the system are the axons that connect one nerve cell to another (see the illustration).

And, like the wiring, those axons are wrapped in an insulating material that's not rubber or plastic, of course, but a fatty substance called myelin. As the peripheral nervous system branches and the nerves become smaller and smaller, the axons of the smaller branches often lack myelin. Occasionally, doctors will order a biopsy. Small pieces of skin can be inspected to determine the density of small nerve fibers and biopsies can be taken of the nerves themselves.

Information obtained from these and other tests can help doctors determine if the cause of neuropathy is inflammation or damage to axons or myelin, which may shed some light on the underlying cause. The more serious the damage, the less likely the nerve will heal without medical help. Early treatment is very beneficial, as prolonged damage can lead to permanent problems. Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment routes vary greatly. If the nerve is only injured, you may recover over time without surgery.

Nerves heal slowly, sometimes over many months. For these minor nerve injuries, non-surgical treatment options include medication, physical therapy, or massage. The peripheral nervous system is a network of 43 pairs of motor and sensory nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) to the entire human body. Therefore, peripheral neuropathy is used to describe any situation in which nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged or altered.

Recovery is a slow process, and the most important thing you can do to regain nerve sensitivity and function is to move steadily. The nerve may have been repaired and function may have recovered a little; however, the scar tissue surrounding the nerve causes tethering and discomfort when moving the hand. Nerve damage throughout the body can also be caused by accidents, sports and work-related injuries, and lacerations that stretch, compress, or cut these nerves. According to the American Diabetes Association, about half of people with diabetes have some type of nerve damage. In the United States, diabetes tops a list that includes excessive alcohol consumption, nutritional deficiencies, drug side effects, exposure to toxic chemicals, and autoimmune disorders that cause erratic attacks on the nervous system.

These surgical procedures can be very complicated and, therefore, it is essential to select an experienced surgeon and team for peripheral nerve operations. By participating in physical therapy, as well as in daily exercise and movement, you force your nerves to fill in the gaps and complete tasks. At Pain Management Specialists, board-certified doctors Stuart Hough and Ramani Peruvemba, MD, combine cutting-edge techniques and patient-centered care to treat nerve injuries and optimize recovery.