Peripheral nerve injuries - Diagnosis and treatment (2024)

FAQs

How do you diagnose a peripheral nerve injury? ›

Diagnosis of Peripheral Nerve Injury

Two of these tests are electromyography and nerve conduction velocity. These tests are sometimes done during actual surgery while the patient is sedated. The doctor may also order any of the following imaging techniques: CT scan.

Sharp, shooting, electric pains are normal signs of nerve recovery. The signal should extend to the farthest distal nerve ending. It is the body's way of communicating the direction of where to travel. The scar should become less sensitive as a sign of recovery.

Motor nerves have a time limit for healing. The reason for this is a structure called the 'motor endplate', where the nerve joins into the muscle. If the motor endplate receives no nerve impulse for more than 18-24 months, it dies away and there is no longer any way that the muscle can be activated by the nerve.

Nerve function tests.

Electromyography (EMG) measures and records electrical activity in your muscles to find nerve damage. A thin needle (electrode) is inserted into the muscle to measure electrical activity as you contract the muscle. During an EMG , a nerve conduction study is typically also done.

If your nerve is only injured, you may recover over time without surgery. Nerves heal slowly, sometimes over many months. For these mild nerve injuries, nonsurgical treatment options include medication, physical therapy or massage therapy. Peripheral nerve surgery can reconstruct or repair damaged nerves.

The most common peripheral nerve injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the median nerve in the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed or pinched as it passes through a narrow passageway called the carpal tunnel.

Some damaged nerves heal on their own, but some injuries are too severe for the nerve to regrow. If a patient has a serious peripheral nerve injury, we have methods to restore muscle function that didn't exist 30 years ago. But it's also important to know there's often a ticking clock with nerve injuries.

To achieve full recovery, the nerve must undergo three main processes: Wallerian degeneration (the clearing process of the distal stump), axonal regeneration, and end-organ reinnervation.

Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy vary based on the type that you have and what part of the body is affected. Symptoms can range from tingling or numbness in a certain body part to more serious effects such as burning pain or paralysis.

What is the best exercise for nerve damage? ›

Nerve damage can be considered a disability. Damage to your peripheral nerves, or those outside of your brain and spine, can affect various parts of your body. This can affect various systems of the body but is often associated with symptoms in the limbs. This is referred to as Peripheral Neuropathy.

Your treatment is based on the extent and cause of your injury and how well the nerve is healing. If your nerve is healing properly, you may not need surgery. You may need to rest the affected area until it's healed. Nerves recover slowly, and maximal recovery may take many months or several years.

Peripheral neuropathy is usually not dangerous, but it can have very disruptive effects on your life. These effects are usually not as severe when it only affects one nerve or a limited group of nerves. The more nerves it affects, the greater the potential impact. The outlook also depends partly on your symptoms.

There are several benefits of exercise like walking. They will help you manage weight, improve blood sugar levels and blood flow, get more oxygen and nutrients to your legs, improve muscle strength, and help you get better sleep. This will all have a positive effect on your neuropathy.

Frequently the neurologist will recommend electrodiagnostic testing to measure the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. If necessary, the neurologist may also recommend blood tests, a nerve biopsy, a skin biopsy, a spinal tap or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy

The main symptoms can include: numbness and tingling in the feet or hands. burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas. loss of balance and co-ordination.

HOW IS A DIAGNOSIS OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY MADE? Peripheral neuropathy is diagnosed on the basis of a clinical assessment conducted by a neurologist, which includes taking the history of the patient's symptoms, and a physical examination. Often, nerve conduction studies will also be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

EMG, which consists of nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography, is an essential diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with suspected peripheral neuropathy. Many neurologists order an EMG for all patients with suspected peripheral neuropathy.