Nerve Conditions

The symptoms of nerve conditions are diverse because the nervous system governs or participates in a number of functions as well as body systems, including control of body temperature, blood pressure, muscles, digestion and appetite, movement, and sight.

The symptoms of nerve conditions are diverse and can include the following:

• Altered smell or taste

• Burning feeling

• Confusion or cognitive changes

• Loss of balance

• Loss of consciousness

• Loss of muscle coordination

• Muscle weakness

• Numbness

• Pain from an origin that does not usually cause pain or that follows the course of a specific nerve

• Paralysis or inability to move a body part

• Pins-and-needles (prickling) sensation

• Sensitivity

• Tingling

Nerve conditions may accompany symptoms related to other body systems, such as the digestive system including:

• Difficulty chewing
• Digestive problems
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Nausea with or without vomiting

In some cases, nerve symptoms may be life threatening and should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

• Abnormal pupil size or nonreactivity to light

• Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness

• Difficulty swallowing

• Disorientation

• Dizziness or vertigo

• Garbled or slurred speech or inability to speak

• Loss of muscle coordination

• Respiratory or breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, labored breathing, wheezing, not breathing, or choking

• Seizures

• Sudden paralysis or inability to move a body part

The causes of nerve conditions are as diverse as the nervous system itself. A common origin for nerve symptoms is the peripheral nervous system, which transmits sensory signals from the rest of the body to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Nerve conditions can arise from one nerve or many. Some syndromes occur when a nerve is compressed and deprived of proper blood flow. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome may occur from repetitive wrist or hand motions. Diabetes is a common cause of neuropathies (nerve disorders), the result of nerve damage from high blood sugar. Nerve conditions can stem from autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or Guillain-Barré syndrome, or from an infection with viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or Epstein-Barr virus.

Some viruses can remain dormant in your nerve cells and recur over many years. For example, the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox can, much later in life, produce painful nerve conditions, such as shingles and postherpetic neuralgia.

Some infections can result in damage to the nerves or nerve conditions including:

• Epstein-Barr virus

• Hepatitis C

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

• Lyme disease (inflammatory bacterial disease spread by ticks)

• Other bacterial and viral infections of the brain or meninges (membranes lining the brain and spinal cord)

• Syphilis

• Tuberculosis

• Varicella-zoster virus

Chronic disease can affect the nerves as well as other body systems. Examples of chronic diseases that can cause nerve conditions include:

• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (inherited disorder affecting the peripheral nerves)

• Complex regional pain syndromes

• Connective tissue disorders

• Diabetes (a chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to use sugar for energy)

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

• Myasthenia gravis

• Multiple sclerosis

• Neurofibromatosis

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (a disorder in which the body attacks its own healthy cells and tissues)

• Vascular disorders

Other causes of nerve conditions include:

• Alcohol abuse

• Dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease

• Guillain-Barré syndrome (autoimmune nerve disorder)

• Medication side effects

• Nutritional deficiencies, especially of thiamine, niacin, and vitamins E, B1, B6, or B12

• Prolonged exposure to toxins such as lead, mercury, and other metals

• Repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome

Nerve conditions can also be due to serious or even potentially life-threatening causes including:

• Brain or spinal cord tumors

• Stroke

• Transient ischemic attack (temporary stroke-like symptoms that may be a warning sign of an impending stroke)

A number of factors increase the risk of developing nerve conditions. Not all people with risk factors will get nerve conditions. Risk factors for nerve conditions vary according to the type of condition. Some risk factors for nerve damage include:

• Alcohol or illicit substance abuse
• Diabetes
• Family history of degenerative neurologic conditions
• High blood pressure
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Repeated physical motion or stress

Treatment for nerve conditions begins when you seek medical care from your health care provider. The cause, duration and severity of your nerve condition will determine the appropriate treatment. The goals of therapy are to manage the symptoms, including pain, and to treat the underlying condition, if possible. Therapies include medication, surgery, and injections of local anesthetics, as well as complementary treatments such as biofeedback, acupuncture and massage.

• Analgesics, such as codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Fentora, Actiq) and oxycontin (OxyContin, Roxicodone)

• Analgesics that relieve nerve pain such as pregabalin (Lyrica)

• Anticonvulsants such as gabapentin (Neurontin, Gabarone)

• Antidepressants, particularly tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil)

• Antiviral medications to reduce recurrence of postherpetic neuralgia

• Local anesthetics or topical nerve blocks

• Control of high blood sugar (to prevent neuropathy for people with diabetes)

• Injection of local anesthetics

• Injection of nerve blocks

• Motor cortex stimulation

• Physical therapy

• Surgery to block the nerve sensations causing pain

• Surgery to remove tumors or other obstructions on the nerve

Some complementary treatments may help some people better deal with nerve conditions. These treatments, sometimes referred to as alternative therapies, are used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments. Complementary treatments are not meant to substitute for traditional medical care. Be sure to notify your doctor if you are consuming nutritional supplements or homeopathic (nonprescription) remedies as they may interact with the prescribed medical therapy.

Complementary treatments may include:

• Acupuncture

• Massage therapy

• Nutritional dietary supplements, herbal remedies, tea beverages, and similar products

• Yoga

Because nerve conditions can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce your risk of potential complications including:

• Amputation
• Paralysis or inability to move a body part
• Permanent disability
• Permanent nerve damage
• Permanent or chronic pain
• Poor quality of life
• Spread of cancer
• Spread of infection