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, reports...
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 damage can also...
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 result of a...
The spine is made up of bones called vertebra and soft spongy discs that separate the vertebra and aid in motion and shock absorption. The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and is housed by the spine. Branching off the spine at each...
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 use crutches, have...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which your body's immune cells attack the protective covering surrounding the nerves in your body. This protective covering (myelin sheath) protects the signals that go through nerves similarly to the way...
The optic nerves begin at the back of the eye in an area called the optic disc. 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...
The ear nerve is known by several names including the vestibulocochlear nerve, the auditory nerve, the acoustic nerve, and the eighth cranial nerve. This nerve has two components. The cochlear nerve is responsible for hearing. The vestibular nerve...
Cervical nerves are nerves that pass from the spinal cord through openings between the vertebrae of the neck. 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...
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 nerves that are...
The arm nerves arise from the spinal cord in the lower neck, forming a nerve bundle known as the brachial plexus. This nerve bundle splits, giving rise to the ulnar, radial and median arm nerves. Smaller branches from these nerves supply specific...
The cervical spine is the region of the vertebral column that supports the neck. Its name comes from the Latin word for neck, which is cervix. Dr. Peter F. Ullrich Jr. explains that eight nerves emerge from between the vertebrae of the neck,...
Nerves could be described as the body's telephone lines. 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...
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 important to define the...
Nerves are the body's communication system. 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...
If you are one of the 23.6 million people who are learning how to manage their struggle with diabetes, your doctor has probably already informed you of the importance of managing your blood glucose levels. She has probably also spoken to you about...
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 least 25 years, and...
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system comprises the rest of the nervous system, a network of nerves that begins where the central nervous system ends, with spinal nerve roots that extend...
Your feet are two of the most important parts of your body, since they help you get from one point to the next. That's why when you have an injury, such as nerve damage or a tendon injury, it's important to get it diagnosed and treated as quickly...
The L5-S1 joint describes the space between the fifth lumbar and first sacral vertebra in the back. Between these vertebrae exits a left and right spinal nerve. With certain conditions, such as a slipped disc, degenerative disc disease or pelvic...
Like acupuncture, acupressure is an alternative medicine focusing on energy and healing points on your body. While acupuncture places small needles into these pressure points, acupressure is pressure applied by the fingers and hands of trained...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It is a disease associated with insulin--a hormone produces in the pancreas--deficiency or resistance and characterized...
Vitamin B-12, which is one of the eight B complex vitamins, is important for the growth and maintenance of nerve cells. Animal-derived foods, such as chicken, eggs and milk are great sources of this vitamin, but those who follow vegan diets are at...
Causes of burning sensations, often described as tingling, in the leg include medical conditions, environmental factors and certain types of substance abuse. Burning sensations within the leg may also signal an underlying complication or condition...
Vitamin B-12 plays an essential role in fat and protein metabolism and in the body's production of red blood cells. Inadequate consumption or absorption of this nutrient can cause vitamin B-12 deficiency, a condition with potentially severe...
If you experience thigh tingling when lying down, nerve damage due to meralgia paresthetica is a possible culprit. Also called "pinched nerves," this condition causes thigh nerves to compress. Because damaged nerves are highly sensitive, the...
Vitamin B-12 is dietary or supplemental nutrient that you rely on for bodily processes that include red blood cell and DNA formation, as well as normal function of your nervous system. If you have a B-12 deficiency, you can develop a number of...
More than 100 types of neuropathy exist, each with differing symptoms and prognosis, according to the Neuropathy Association. Neuropathy is generally referred to as a disorder of the peripheral nerves, which includes motor, sensory and autonomic...
Multiple sclerosis is a disabling disease that affects the central nervous system. Potassium is an essential mineral that works with sodium to regulate the amount of fluid inside and outside of your cells. Potassium also functions as an...
Sciatica is an inflammation or damage to the sciatic nerve in the spine. Symptoms include sharp pain shooting from the lower back to the back of the legs.
Hammertoe is a deformation of the middle joint in a toe, which can be caused by poor footwear or muscle, nerve, or joint damage caused by another condition. Learn more about hammertoe, including symptoms and treatments, in this video.
