What does it feel like when you have nerve damage?

Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can be as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. People with neuropathic pain are often very sensitive to touch or cold and can experience pain as a result of stimuli that would not normally be painful, such as brushing the skin.

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How can you tell if your nerves are damaged?

The signs of nerve damage include the following: Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. Feeling like you're wearing a tight glove or sock. Muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs.

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What is the most common symptom of nerve damage?

10 Signs You May Be Suffering from Nerve Pain
  • Numbness or tingling in feet and hands.
  • Loss of balance and falling.
  • Throbbing and sharp pain.
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch.
  • Dropping things with your hands.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Heavy feeling in arms and legs.
  • Dramatic drop in blood pressure.

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How do you heal nerve damage?

Peripheral nerve injuries can be treated nonoperatively with rest, physical therapy, desensitization techniques and medications to numb the pain while allowing the nerve to grow back.

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Can a damaged nerve heal itself?

Occasionally, the nerve is bruised, and may heal on its own in time. However, if a nerve is cut or crushed, it may need surgical treatment in order to help improve or restore function to the hand or arm. Sometimes, certain illnesses can affect nerves and cause similar symptoms in the upper extremity.

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Pain Associated with Nerve Damage

24 related questions found

What happens if nerve damage goes untreated?

If the underlying cause of peripheral neuropathy isn't treated, you may be at risk of developing potentially serious complications, such as a foot ulcer that becomes infected. This can lead to gangrene (tissue death) if untreated, and in severe cases may mean the affected foot has to be amputated.

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Does an MRI show nerve damage?

Does an MRI scan show nerve damage? A neurological examination can diagnose nerve damage, but an MRI scan can pinpoint it. It's crucial to get tested if symptoms worsen to avoid any permanent nerve damage.

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Is nerve damage serious?

A nerve injury can affect the brain's ability to communicate with muscles and organs. Damage to the peripheral nerves is called peripheral neuropathy. It's important to get medical care for a peripheral nerve injury as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent complications and permanent damage.

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Why does nerve damage happen?

The most common cause of nerve damage is diabetes. Another common cause of nerve damage is an inherited anatomical defect. Other possible causes of nerve damage include: repetitive motion, Lyme disease, sudden trauma, aging, vitamin deficiencies, exposure to toxins, infections, and autoimmune disorders.

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Is magnesium good for nerve pain?

Numerous clinical studies have found that magnesium has beneficial effects in patients suffering from neuropathic pain, dysmenorrhea, tension headache, acute migraine attack, and others.

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How can I test for nerve damage at home?

The test involves lightly and briefly (1-2 seconds) touching the tips of the first, third and fifth toes of both feet with the index finger to detect a loss in sensation, and can be performed by patients and relatives alike in the comfort of their own home.

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Is there a test to show nerve damage?

A nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test — also called a nerve conduction study (NCS) — measures how fast an electrical impulse moves through your nerve. NCV can identify nerve damage. During the test, your nerve is stimulated, usually with electrode patches attached to your skin.

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How painful is nerve damage?

Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can be as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. People with neuropathic pain are often very sensitive to touch or cold and can experience pain as a result of stimuli that would not normally be painful, such as brushing the skin.

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How long do damaged nerves take to heal?

If the nerve is mildly pinched but still functional, then it can recover function in a few hours or a few days. As the nerve compression gets more severe or if it has been compressed a long time, it can take months for nerves to improve. The nerve will regenerate better in younger patients than in older patients.

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What are the 3 types of nerve injury?

1.1.

Seddon2 classified nerve injuries into three broad categories; neurapraxia, axonotmesis, and neurotmesis.

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Can stress cause nerve damage?

Chronic stress can lead to neuropathy by damaging the nervous system. When the nervous system is damaged, it can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms. The end result is pain, discomfort, or even worse.

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Is heat good for nerve pain?

Nerve Pain

It's best to use cold when the pain is still sharp and move on to heat once that sharpness has subsided. The heat will increase blood flow and help tissues heal faster.

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Is nerve damage a disability?

Depending on the extent of damage to the nerve, it can heal on its own or become permanent, even with treatment. If you suffer from a condition that causes nerve damage that is so severe that it impacts your ability to work for at least a year, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits.

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How do neurologists treat nerve pain?

Multimodal therapy (including medicines, physical therapy, psychological counseling and sometimes surgery) is usually required to treat neuropathic pain. Medicines commonly prescribed for neuropathic pain include anti-seizure drugs such as: Gabapentin (Neurontin®). Pregabalin (Lyrica®).

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Can you live long with nerve damage?

Some nerve-related problems do not interfere with daily life. Others get worse quickly and may lead to long-term, severe symptoms and problems. When a medical condition can be found and treated, your outlook may be excellent. But sometimes, nerve damage can be permanent, even if the cause is treated.

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Is nerve pain worse at night?

While not everyone experiences this, it is quite common for people with nerve pain to report greater pain later at night or whenever they get in bed. The pain may make it harder for you to get quality sleep, and that may in turn make your pain and overall health and wellbeing even worse.

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How do you know if it's muscle or nerve pain?

Nerve pain is stabbing, tingling, and sharp while muscle pain is dull and steady or crampy and spasmodic. Treatment of both types of pain depends on the underlying cause.

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Is it hard to prove nerve damage?

Nerve damage is known to cause some of the worst pain a human being can experience, along with disability that can result in an inability to work temporarily or permanently. However, proving in a personal injury case that disabling nerve damage has occurred can be difficult.

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What kind of doctor do you see for nerve damage?

Neurologists are specialists who treat diseases of the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles.

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What is the best test for nerve damage?

An EMG test helps find out if muscles are responding the right way to nerve signals. Nerve conduction studies help diagnose nerve damage or disease. When EMG tests and nerve conduction studies are done together, it helps providers tell if your symptoms are caused by a muscle disorder or a nerve problem.

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