Nerve damage is caused by certain conditions such as autoimmune diseases, motor neuron disease, cancer, infections and diabetes. Acute, progressive lesions or nutritional deficiencies can also be responsible for these disorders. Treatments vary greatly depending on whether the nerve has been compressed, partially damaged or completely severed.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Repair Minor Nerve Damage
Step 1. Be patient
If the nerve has been compressed or severed only partially, it can heal on its own over time. This is because the nerve tissue surrounding the lesion dies and new fibers must be regenerated between the two healthy extremities.
The causes that cause a pinched nerve are many, such as poor posture, injury, arthritis, spinal stenosis and / or obesity
Step 2. Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen
You should only take these medications sporadically for acute pain and never for more than a week or two, unless directed otherwise by your doctor.
- NSAIDs treat swelling and inflammation of the nerves, while acetaminophen has only an analgesic function.
- Make sure these medicines do not interact with other medications you are taking. For example, avoid taking aspirin in combination with blood thinners.
- Taking NSAIDs for a long time can cause gastritis and stomach ulcers. Take them with awareness.
Step 3. Try Physiotherapy
When a nerve is pinched or severed, this type of therapy is often required to repair the damage and increase strength and mobility. Ask your doctor to prescribe a course of physiotherapy treatment.
- In some specific cases, physiotherapy is covered by the National Health Service. If necessary, if you have private health insurance, you can check if this treatment is included in the policy.
- Sometimes it is necessary to wait a few weeks or months after the acute injury before starting this recovery phase. The nerve takes time to heal and reform itself.
- Try some pool exercises to nullify the effects of gravity if you have problems with ground movement. Once your stamina is established, you can try some strength exercises.
Step 4. Undergo acupuncture
Some patients have found that this therapy calms the nerves and allows normal activities to continue while the fibers regenerate on their own.
- Biofeedback is also a useful therapy. This technique focuses on controlling the functions of the body; consists in connecting the body to electronic sensors that provide useful information to concentrate and relax.
- Unfortunately, neither acupuncture nor biofeedback is covered by the National Health Service; this means that you have to provide for the expenses for the sessions out of your own pocket.
Method 2 of 4: Repair Moderate Nerve Damage
Step 1. Get electromyography (EMG) or electroneurography (ENG), a nerve conduction test
These tests can identify where the nerve is damaged and define the severity of the problem. Eventually, your doctor may also prescribe an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Some of these tests, such as EMG, can be done in a medical laboratory. Others more invasive, however, such as magnetic resonance, must be done in the hospital by a specialized technician
Step 2. Consider an injection to numb the nerves
If your doctor thinks your problem is temporary, he or she may consider getting you a steroid injection. this procedure is called "epidural infiltration" and is usually performed by an anesthetist who specializes in pain management. Steroids help the body heal faster from nerve damage.
Step 3. Consider minor surgery
Some types of nerve damage are caused by compression or crushing. In these cases, an outpatient surgery is often sufficient to resolve the situation. Criteria for determining whether surgery is needed include symptoms of radiculopathy, clear evidence of nerve root compression from MRI, persistent pain lasting more than six weeks, and progressive motor weakness.
- A minor surgical procedure is arthroscopy, through which the pinched nerve can be released or the severed ends sutured together.
- Another minor surgery involves debriding the nerve, which helps reduce the compression that occurs in certain situations, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This procedure allows you to create more space for the nerve by moving it elsewhere or by dividing the tissue.
Step 4. Engage in nerve "re-education" therapy
The nerves must be re-trained with specific physiotherapy, which is usually completed in two phases: "primary" and "late". The goal of treatment is to restore normal sensitivity.
- The primary phase of therapy aims to verify that the nerves are able to perceive a wide range of sensations, while the late one has the task of fine-tuning the sensations making them usable.
- The sessions for this type of therapy are performed on an outpatient basis; the duration of the sessions depends on the severity of the damage. This is usually a long process, as it is necessary to "re-educate" the body to function normally.
Method 3 of 4: Repair Severe Nerve Damage
Step 1. Seek medical help
Go to the emergency room immediately if you have suffered a serious injury and experience numbness or tingling in the extremities. If you cut yourself with a sharp object, try to plug the bleeding on your way to the hospital.
- Nerve damage caused by a kitchen knife or piece of glass is quite common.
- Go to the emergency room if you've recently come into contact with lead, arsenic, mercury, or other toxic substances. It is necessary to expel them from the body to start the nerve regeneration process.
Step 2. Consider having a nerve transplant or nerve rejoining surgery
If the tissue has been completely severed, surgery may be required to heal. If the surgery is successful, the nerve will grow back and regenerate at a rate of about 2-3 cm per month.
Transplants often require the removal of nerve fibers from another part of the body, which will lose sensitivity following the surgery
Step 3. Re-educate the body
The body usually has to go through four stages during nerve healing. In this process, the cells must heal and "tune in" properly to send the signals to the brain.
- Physiotherapy is useful for this very purpose. A therapist is able to re-educate the body to heal it by subjecting it to exercises that require an increasing range of motion.
- Some time is needed; nerve tissue regeneration does not occur overnight. You will have to wait weeks, months or even years. In severe cases, the functionality of the affected area is not 100% recovered. Your doctor should be able to formulate a prognosis for the timing of recovery based on the specific trauma you have suffered.
Method 4 of 4: Find Out About Nerve Damage
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms and pain associated with this type of injury
There are few characteristic signs and symptoms of nerve damage. If you do, see your doctor.
- Pain or tingling in the arms, legs, fingers and toes.
- Loss of muscle control. You may feel weak or have difficulty performing daily tasks, such as buttoning your shirt or turning the door handle.
- Difficulty digesting food. This symptom is often accompanied by swelling or a feeling of fullness. You may also throw up partially digested food or have difficulty evacuating.
- Peripheral neuropathy impairs the brain's ability to receive pain signals from the nerves. It is a common complaint and the symptoms are pain or numbness in the extremities. You may also experience tingling or a burning sensation in your arms and legs, all early signs of a nerve problem.
Step 2. Contact your pharmacist if you have recently started a new drug therapy
Some medicines, especially chemotherapy and HIV medicines, are known to cause nerve damage in some patients.
Step 3. Go to the doctor
Make an appointment with your family doctor if you have a disease that causes nerve problems. These conditions include diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders, alcoholism, and the respective therapies should also include nerve treatments.
Step 4. Contact a specialist
Call your doctor to schedule an emergency visit if a back disease or ailment has progressed to the point of causing numbness or tingling. These are signals that indicate a damaged or compressed nerve. In emergencies, surgery is recommended.
Step 5. Talk to your doctor about medications
Discuss with your doctor about taking tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants to manage neuralgia. These medicines are prescribed to patients with chronic nerve pain to stop the signals being sent to the brain. Don't forget to discuss the side effects of long-term therapy as well.
