Neuropathy is a general term that describes damage to a nerve or nerve group. It can affect any nerve in your body, but commonly affects the nerves in your legs and feet. Your femoral nerve supplies the muscles that help to straighten your leg. Damage to this nerve is called femoral neuropathy. Low-level infrared heat therapy is an experimental treatment option that involves using a low-energy laser to help reverse neuropathy symptoms.
Your ulnar nerve runs down your arm, past your elbow and along the ulna bone that forms a part of your forearm. It is a relatively large nerve, responsible for innervating your pinky and ring fingers, as well as part of your pa...
The nerves send messages to the brain to initiate movement and feeling in the muscles and skin. Nerve damage at any point in the network of nerves can cause symptoms at other points, including numbness, loss of strength, tingli...
Normally, physically structured muscle-building routines do not cause nerve damage. Improper athletic technique or accidental injury is usually the cause of nerve damage. Athletes use a variety of muscle-building routines, depe...
Raw milk may lead to a variety of foodborne illnesses, and some of these may cause nerve damage if left untreated. Consult your doctor if you suspect that you have food poisoning or nerve damage.
While acupuncture places small needles into these pressure points, acupressure is pressure applied by the fingers and hands of trained individuals onto the same points. Ulnar nerve damage can be reduced by acupressure, pushing ...
Bananas are a fruit rich in nutrients, including vitamins B-6, potassium and vitamin C. These vitamins are important to neurological functioning, however higher doses might contribute to nerve damage. Consult your doctor before...
This is what makes caffeinated beverages so effective at providing a morning jolt of energy; the chemical increases mental focus and alertness and helps you overcome fatigue. Despite its ability to make you feel energized, thou...
Numbness and shock-like electrical sensations in the fingers can cause discomfort and lead to difficulty picking things up or weakness in the fingers. Nerve problems generally cause these symptoms. The burning, tingling or pric...
Nerve damage can be painful and can affect your quality of life. A range of traumas can damage nerves, including injuries, burns, diseases, muscle spasms, a pinched disc or vertebral misalignment. Conventional treatment include...
Nerve damage, or neuropathy, can have various causes, including but not limited to diabetes, toxins, alcohol abuse, injuries and medications. Like every other part of the body, the nerves require specific nutrients to remain he...
Arthritis and herniated, or ruptured, disks are among the manifestations of chronic neck injury. Fortunately, most of these degenerative changes – including multiple herniated disks – will heal or stabilize without ...
Nerve-damaged hands can occur for a variety of reasons including fractured wrists, carpal tunnel syndrome or congenital disorders. Symptoms can include hand weakness, tingling, pain and inability to properly use the hand. Thera...
Lack of blood supply and nutrients in diabetics causes neuropathy and other causes of nutritional deficiency and viral disease can cause neuropathy or damaged nerves. Peripheral nerves can regenerate as long as the nerve cel...
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture is generally accepted as a safe treatment. NCCAM notes, however, that potentially severe complications may occur if acupuncture is adminis...
Niacin, or vitamin B-3, is an essential nutrient for your circulation and nerve function. Having too much or too little can result in symptoms in various parts of your body, but nerve damage is not a common side effect. Discuss...
Nerve damage, or neuropathy, triggers a wide assortment of symptoms, notes the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The network of nerves that link the brain and spinal cord to the organs, arms, legs and ski...
Some dangers of bike riding are obvious, such as muscle injury from overuse and potential injury from crashes in traffic. Less obvious is the risk of nerve damage from sitting on bikes. If you are suffering the symptoms of nerv...
Hypericum perforatum, commonly known as St John's wort, has been used for centuries to treat nerve damage, sciatica and back pain. In more recent years, scientific research has supported use of Hypericum for other nervous syste...
Nerve damage in your legs is often referred to as neuropathy. Neuropathy can be caused by injury or diabetes complications. When you suffer from nerve damage in your legs, you may notice trouble standing, walking or even sittin...
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that about 1 million people in the United States are treated for shingles or its complications. Shingles may cause nerve problems, such as pain, itching or tingling sensatio...
In the United States, it is estimated that gluten intolerance affects one out of every 133 people, according to the National Institutes of Health. The immune response in gluten intolerance can affect many areas, including possi...
In the quantities found in most food and drinks, caffeine is very unlikely to cause toxicity; however, many drugs contain high levels of caffeine and pose a considerable risk for some users. Nerve damage can develop as a conseq...
The digestive system breaks down carbohydrate from your diet and absorbs the sugar into your bloodstream. This is the provenance of the term "blood sugar." The cells in the human body use glucose as an important source of energ...
Recent medical research has confirmed the traditional usage of Lion's Mane in herbal medicine, showing that the mushroom can relieve damage of the nerves and nervous system. However, herbal Medicine is not intended to be a repl...
Energy production, digestion and absorption of food, respiration, circulation and temperature regulation also rely on this vitamin, which is found in many animal products but is absent from plant foods. Deficiency of this vitam...
Diabetic nerve damage, also known as diabetic neuropathy, occurs in approximately half of all diabetes cases, according to Ari S. Eckman, M.D. of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Diabetic nerve damage can affect any part o...
Nerve damage in the legs can cause a number of motor and sensory issues, or difficulties with movement and the way your skin feels stimuli. However, some types of nerve damage may also cause abnormal amounts of protein to appea...
The highly concentrated presence in your body makes DHA a significant nutrient for adequate central nervous system functions. Specifically, DHA may play a role in reducing the risk of nerve damage associated with Alzheimer's di...
Because most people get enough potassium in their diets, losing too much potassium in your urine or malabsorption of the mineral in the digestive tract might be the cause. Low potassium levels or deficiency can lead to irregula...
The human body requires vitamin B12 for many critical biological functions, including proper functioning of the nervous system. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause severe symptoms, including nerve damage. If you suspect you h...
A number of nutrients, including essential minerals, contribute to the health of your nervous system. However, exposure to excess amounts of these minerals can have a negative effect on your nerves, potentially causing neuropat...
Nerve damage can happen anywhere in the vast network of nerves, which are the communication system of your body. The term "peripheral neuropathy" is what describes any kind of damage done to your nerves. Exercise has been shown...
Nerves may be damaged by numerous factors, including pressure, stretching or cutting, notes the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. If one or more of your nerves becomes damaged, nerve impulses to and from your brain may ...
Nerve damage symptoms don't need to stop you from exercising, but they do pose some limitations on which exercises you can, and should, do. Nerve damage symptoms can include muscle weakness, pain, numbness and tingling. Nerve d...
Damage to the ulnar nerve can happen frequently to an avid cyclist. It is known as handlebar palsy. This is caused from inflammation of the ulnar nerve. Irritation of this nerve can happen at the elbow or the wrist and is usual...
This feeling is often termed parasthesia, which refers to a burning, prickling or numbing sensation most commonly in the legs and feet, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Parasthesia can b...
Nerve damage can be the result of a variety of conditions such as injuries, diabetic neuropathy, sciatica or a nerve entrapment. These conditions can lead to pain, burning and a feeling of walking on pins and needles in your fe...
Hiking may cause nerved damage in your lower legs. A fall on your leg or a twisting of your leg in the wrong direction during a hike is sometimes all it takes to tweak one of your nerves. The damage to your nerves caused by a h...
Neuropathy is another term for nerve damage, and this can be caused by a variety of conditions or medications. Some individuals find certain herbs effective in treating symptoms related to nerve damage, however, these may not b...
If your ulnar nerve becomes compresses -- often as the result of a fracture, cyst or bone spurt -- you may experience pain, tingling and numbness in your arm as well as your fingers. Exercise can help to keep your arm from beco...
The optic nerve carries electrical impulses from the retina at the back of the eye to your brain for processing. Any disorder that damages the optic nerve can cause permanent vision loss. Certain vitamins may help treat optic n...
For example, if your hand touches something hot, your sensory nerves send the message to your brain and your motor nerves relay the message to move your hand. Several conditions can cause nerve damage, affecting how well your n...
Foot calluses are uncomfortable and unattractive. Left untreated, they can lead to ingrown toenails and corns, which are much more painful and difficult to remove. You can have calluses removed by a podiatrist, but this option ...
The pain that comes from nerve damage can be intense, and the weakness can be debilitating. But sometimes damaged nerves can heal, and certain vitamins can be valuable tools in that healing process. Taking supplements of these...
The brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves of the body are composed of cells which require the same chemical processes as all other cells to sustain their normal physiology. They also require certain vitamins known to be impo...
Like any part of your body, your nerves have an ongoing process of maintenance and repair that requires nutrients. Demands are higher when the nervous system is stressed or damaged as a result of disease or trauma. Many foods, ...
Perioral numbness refers to a temporary numbness or paralysis of the tissue around the mouth and lower face. This can be caused by a number of conditions including hypocalcemia, nerve damage, diabetic neuropathy and Bell's pals...
Vitamins play crucial roles in the various chemical reactions inside cells. Nerve cells, known as neurons, are susceptible to vitamin deficiency during their development as well as in their mature state. Vitamins, therefore, ar...
A variety of factors and conditions can cause nerve damage, including infectious diseases, toxins and illnesses such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders; physical trauma from prolonged compression, accidents or surgery; and sc...
About 20 million Americans are afflicted with chronic nerve damage, according to Healthcommunities.com, including about 60 percent of Americans who are diagnosed diabetics. Injuries that involve nerve damage often can't be cur...
The L5 segment is in the lower spine, and the spinal nerve associated with it runs down the back of the legs to provide sensory and motor signals to the legs. This nerve may be damaged permanently with certain conditions. Becau...
Leg nerve damage, or lower limb peripheral neuropathy, can occur from trauma, muscle compression or systemic disease, such as diabetes. This can cause a patient to experience pain, numbness or weakness, states MedlinePlus from ...
Nerve damage can be caused by a variety of factors including arthritis, vitamin deficiencies, injuries, surgery or disease. This condition may result in symptoms such as muscle paralysis, numbness, tingling in the limbs or extr...
Between these vertebrae exits a left and right spinal nerve. With certain conditions, such as a slipped disc, degenerative disc disease or pelvic injury, this spinal nerve may be damaged. Damage can result in specific symptoms ...
Nerves in the PNS transmit nerve signals from the brain to the muscles of the body, allowing for body functioning and locomotion. Progressive nerve damage can prove debilitating or even fatal, and may occur for a number of reas...
Few body parts bear such consistent daily punishment as the humble foot. This pedestrian appendage carries the weight of the human body day after day, mile upon mile. When nerve damage affects the foot, it can hamper mobility...
The peripheral nervous system extends beyond these structures, allowing nerves to reach the various organs and tissues in order to supply sensory, motor and autonomic nerve function between the brain and the rest of the body. D...
An intravenous catheter, often shortened to IV, is commonly used to gain access to the circulatory system. It is often placed in one of the blood veins of the arm or hand, and once in place, can be used to deliver fluids to a p...
Damage to the peripheral nerves can impede sensory, motor or visceral function.
Damage to the optic nerve, or optic atrophy, is a sign of a serious problem, but is not a disease. Optic nerve damage can potentially cause blindness and other vision problems. The most common cause of optic atrophy is poor blo...
Spine surgery is complicated and delicate, particularly when performed on the cervical spine. Any number of conditions may require cervical spine surgery and there are special considerations for each condition. One consideratio...
Nerve damage or neuropathy is loss of sensation or movement in a part of the human body. Nerve damage may occur due to certain over-the-counter or prescription medicines. The University of Chicago reports that this condition is...
It contains both motor and sensory nerve fibers. The motor nerves supply the muscles of extension, which allow the legs to straighten at the knees. The sensory nerves receive input from the front of the thigh and lower leg, all...
They carry messages from the brain to the various muscles, glands and organs, and then relay messages back to the brain from those same sources. Nerve damage will often affect the organ that the nerve supplies, by destroying th...
Nerve damage to the wrist area can be caused by any number of factors, from trauma to a chronic pathology. The symptoms also can range from mildly odd sensations to excruciating pain from the fingers to the forearm. It is impor...
The medical reference UpToDate reports that Lyrica is used to treat several types of pain: pain in the arms and legs caused by nerve damage in diabetes; nerve pain that may result from the herpes zoster virus; and the tender "t...
This nerve also is responsible for feeling in the lower leg and front of the thigh. The tibial nerve affects the calf and foot, while the peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatica and affects the lower leg. Systemic nerve diso...
Nerves allow individuals to move and feel sensations like pain and hot or cold temperatures. They also enable activities like the pumping of the heart, the act of breathing, digestion and the urge to urinate. Individuals with ...
This nerve bundle splits, giving rise to the ulnar, radial and median arm nerves. Smaller branches from these nerves supply specific muscles and skin regions of the arm. Arm nerve damage at any point from the shoulder to the ha...
The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerve fibers that diverge from the spinal cord into each arm. Damage to the brachial nerve--a condition called plexopathy--can occur due to inflammatory injury, birth defects or toxin exposure...
The optic nerve is important because it has the job of sending visual information from the eyes to the brain. And yet, there are several disorders that can cause damage to this nerve for various reasons. Some hereditary disease...
The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and is housed by the spine. Branching off the spine at each vertebral level are spinal nerves, which travel throughout the body and literally control every aspect of sensation and mo...
The ulnar nerve is a long nerve in the arm that runs from the armpit into the fourth and fifth fingers. Ulnar nerve damage results in a neuropathy, which causes pain, numbness, tingling and burning along the inside of the arm a...
Myelin aids in accelerating the speed at which an impulse travels along a nerve by causing the impulse to jump from one node of Ranvier to the next. Damage to the myelin sheath, called demyelination, compromises the nerve's ab...
The vagus nerve is one of 12 cranial nerves, meaning nerves that exit the spinal cord though the skull rather than through the vertebral column. The vagus nerve is known as the tenth cranial nerve. Its functions include suppl...
The vestibular branch of the nerve aids in balance control, allowing the individual to ascertain their spatial positioning and maintain upright posture. The cochlear branch helps the brain detect sound, through vibrations in ...
The motor, sensory and visual components of the eye are managed by 5 of the 12 cranial nerves. Damage to any one of these nerves can cause symptoms to manifest according to the specific function of that particular nerve. The ...
There are eight cervical nerves, which are numbered C1 through C8 from the top of the neck to the shoulders. These nerves are vital to numerous functions in the head, shoulders, arms and trunk. Damage to a cervical nerve can ...
Dr. Peter F. Ullrich Jr. explains that eight nerves emerge from between the vertebrae of the neck, called cervical nerves. They are referred to as C1 through C8. Each cervical nerve leads to different parts of the body, support...
Nerves carry messages that tell muscles to move, glands to excrete hormones, pupils to dilate and hearts to beat. Nerves tell the brain when the skin is being pinched, kissed, burned or caressed, when the bladder is full or t...
The brain uses nerves to send messages to the muscles, glands and organs, telling them what to do. The body sends messages back to the brain, communicating any unusual sensations or needs that must be addressed. Nerve damage ca...
The axillary nerve innervates the deltoid muscles in the shoulder and is located in the armpit, or axilla. This nerve can be damaged in patients who have a fractured upper arm bone, a cast or splint on the upper arm, improperly...
The trigeminal, or fifth cranial nerve, is a large and complex nerve that is almost entirely sensory and reaches all parts of the face. Causes of damage to the nerves in the face include infection, trauma and tumor.
Physicians often prescribe cymbalta, also called duloxetine, in capsule forms for certain psychiatric disorders and some types of pain. Patients take this medication orally every day for maximum efficacy. Cymbalta capsules work...
They transmit visual information from the eye to the brain, which is responsible for comprehending the visual input. Many types of disorders can damage the optic nerves, including inherited diseases, acquired eye conditions, in...
The femoral nerve is a collection of fibers within the leg that aids in leg movement and sensation. If this nerve is damaged due to trauma or disease--a condition called mononeuropathy--femoral nerve damage symptoms can arise. ...
This nerve has two components. The cochlear nerve is responsible for hearing. The vestibular nerve communicates information about body position and movement, assisting the brain in maintaining balance. Toxins, medications, inju...
The auditory nerve is responsible for transmitting sounds from the sensory portions of the ear to the brain. Damage to the auditory nerve can lead to a form of deafness called sensorineural hearing loss. Because this form of he...
Your facial nerve, which is also referred to as cranial nerve VII, is responsible for controlling the movement of the muscles within your face. Facial nerve damage, a condition sometimes called facial nerve palsy, can occur as ...
The top portion of your spine is called the cervical spine and consists of eight cervical nerves, according the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Cervical spine nerve damage can cause a number of serious medical complications.
This protective covering (myelin sheath) protects the signals that go through nerves similarly to the way rubber protects electrical signals that go through copper wires. Without an intact myelin sheath, nerve signals can bec...
She has probably also spoken to you about the other complications that can occur with diabetics: high blood pressure, blindness, kidney failure, loss of limb and even dental disease. Sixty to 70 percent of people diagnosed wit...
According to the National Diabetic Information Clearinghouse, 60 to 70 percent of diabetics have a form of neuropathy, or nerve damage. Diabetics who are at the highest rate for diabetic nerve damage have had diabetes for at le...
According to the Mayo Clinic, nerve damage can be caused by several factors, including injury, surgery, exposure to toxins and disease. When the damage occurs, pain signals are sent by the damaged nerves throughout the area. Th...
The first symptoms include an unquenchable thirst, excessive urination, fatigue and unexplained weight loss. Allowed to continue unchecked, hyperglycemia can eventually lead to hyperglycemic shock, characterized by mental confu...
