Common Signs That You May Have Nerve Damage

Today's post from prevention.com (see link below) is a good one to start the new year for people experiencing strange, new symptoms that they can't explain. It's a good reference to use before going to your doctor because if you're suffering from these physical symptoms, then at least you'll have a pretty good idea that they're nerve related and possibly evidence of nerve damage...or neuropathy. What's most useful about this list of symptoms is that it doesn't just concentrate on the most commonly known pain, tingling or numbness in the feet but also looks at a wide range of symptoms which indicate 'autonomic' neuropathy. Autonomic neuropathy is where nerve damage has affected some or all of the involuntary functions of the body we take for granted (such as breathing, digestion, sexual performance, and many others and can be a source of great confusion for both patients and doctors alike, who assume those symptoms indicate other conditions. With over 100 sorts of neuropathy and over 100 causes, it remains one of the most frustrating and life-changing ailments, so this list is a place from which to begin your questions and research, even before going to see the doctor. No reason to panic but a little knowledge goes a long way when faced with a new medical problem!

8 Signs You Might Have Nerve Damage
By Crystal Harlan November 7, 2016
 


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There are tens of thousands of nerves in your body. Most of them, your peripheral nerves, are like branches of a tree that spread out all over and transmit messages back to the "trunk"—your brain and spinal cord. When everything goes smoothly, your brain gets the info it needs so that you can move your muscles, recognize pain, and keep your internal organs working properly. But when peripheral nerves get damaged, it's another story: Walking could become challenging, you might experience unrelenting pain, or you could end up with a serious injury because you had no idea how hot that stove was.

An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from peripheral nerve damage, aka neuropathy, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. "Diabetes is the No. 1 cause. Bad luck [meaning you inherited an anatomical defect] is number two. Repetitive motion and Lyme disease follow," says Andrew Elkwood, MD, a surgeon who specializes in nerve reconstruction at The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction in New York and New Jersey.

Other causes include aging, vitamin deficiencies, exposure to toxins (including alcohol and cancer medications), and infections and autoimmune disorders like hepatitis C, diphtheria, HIV, Epstein-Barr, rheumatoid arthritis, and Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Meanwhile, about 30% of neuropathy cases are "idiopathic," meaning there's no known cause.

The good news is that nerve damage generally develops slowly, says Isha Gupta, MD, a neurologist at IGEA Brain and Spine in New York and New Jersey. That means you might be able to treat it before it worsens—but getting the right diagnosis isn't always easy. Your best shot? See a doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms. (Make 2017 YOUR year by taking charge of your health and jump-starting your weight loss with the Prevention calendar and health planner!)


You have numbness, tingling, or burning.

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You have numbness, tingling, or burning.


This sensation may radiate from your hands or feet into your arms or legs. "Compression of sensory nerves (often while sleeping) is relatively common, and symptoms such as numbness or tingling can be temporary," says Gupta. But if the pins-and-needles feeling doesn't go away, get it checked out.

It's difficult or impossible to move part of your body.

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It's difficult or impossible to move part of your body.


"If motor nerves are affected, then weakness or even paralysis may occur," says R. Glenn Smith, MD, PhD, a neurologist at Houston Methodist. These same symptoms could also indicate that there's an underlying issue that needs urgent attention, so it's best to head to the ER. If it turns out that you're actually having a stroke, you'll need medical attention ASAP.

You have pain running down just one leg.

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You have pain running down just one leg.


A constant sharp pain, burning, or tingling that starts in the lower back and travels down the back of your leg could mean that you have sciatica—meaning that your sciatic nerve has become compressed, perhaps thanks to a slipped or worn down disc in your spine.

 You're way clumsier than usual.

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You're way clumsier than usual.


Suddenly stumbling and falling a lot? "If large nerves affecting sensation are damaged, then lack of coordination and failure to sense position of the body can lead to falls," says Smith. It might also turn out that you have a condition like Parkinson's, in which the nerve cells in your brain have become damaged.

You're running to the bathroom all the time.

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You're running to the bathroom all the time.


Damaged nerves can send your bladder faulty messages, so you feel like you have to pee a lot or have trouble making it to the restroom in time. You have a higher than average risk of this problem if you gave birth to a child vaginally or have diabetes.

You get brief, intense headaches that feel like electric shocks.

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You get brief, intense headaches that feel like electric shocks.


You may have something called occipital neuralgia, a condition that can occur when a nerve in your neck gets pinched. You may need a nerve block—an injection that temporarily blocks the troublesome nerve from transmitting pain signals.

You're sweating too much or too little.

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You're sweating too much or too little.


It might be a sign that the nerves carrying info from your brain to your sweat glands have become compromised. Your doctor might order tests to measure your sweating and heart rate.


You got injured because you didn't feel something you should have.

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You got injured because you didn't feel something you should have.

Sensory nerves are supposed to tell your brain that a surface is dangerous in some way, and if they're not doing their job properly you could seem more accident-prone. If you have burns, cuts, or other trauma because you didn't realize that you were touching something hot, sharp, or otherwise uncomfortable, see your doc, says Smith.

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