Your
nervous system is involved in everything your body does, from
regulating your breathing to controlling your muscles and sensing heat
and cold.
There are three types of nerves, or neurons, in the body:
Autonomic nerves.
These nerves control the involuntary or partially voluntary activities
of your body, including heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and
temperature regulation.
Motor nerves. These nerves control your
movements and actions by passing information from your brain and spinal
cord to your muscles.
Sensory nerves.
These nerves relay
information from your skin and muscles back to your spinal cord and
brain. The information is then processed to let you feel pain and other
sensations.
Nerve pain and nerve damage can be mild. But, because
nerves are essential to all you do, nerve pain and damage can seriously
affect your quality of life.
What Are the Symptoms of Nerve Pain and Nerve Damage?
With nerve damage there can be a wide array of symptoms. Which ones you
may have depends on the location and type of nerves that are affected.
Damage can occur to nerves in your brain and spinal cord. It can also
occur in the peripheral nerves, which are located throughout the rest of
your body.
Autonomic nerve damage may produce the following symptoms:
inability to sense chest pain, such as angina or heart attack
too much sweating (known as hyperhidrosis) or too little sweating (known as anhidrosis)
lightheadedness
dry eyes and mouth
constipation
bladder dysfunction
sexual dysfunction
Damage to motor nerves may produce the following symptoms:
weakness
muscle atrophy
twitching, also known as fasciculation
paralysis
Sensory nerve damage may produce the following symptoms:
pain
sensitivity
numbness
tingling or prickling
burning
problems with positional awareness
In some instances, people with nerve damage will have symptoms that
indicate damage to two, or even three, different types of nerves. For
instance, you might experience weakness and burning of your legs at the
same time.
What Causes Nerve Pain and Nerve Damage?
There are more than 100 different types of nerve damage. The various
types may have different symptoms and may require different types of
treatment.
More than 20 million Americans are afflicted with
peripheral nerve damage. This type of damage becomes increasingly more
common with age. In one out of every three people with peripheral nerve
damage, the damage comes from diabetes. In another third, the cause of
the nerve damage remains unknown.
While not an exhaustive list, the following are some of the possible causes of nerve pain and nerve damage:
Autoimmune diseases . A variety of different types of autoimmune
diseases can produce symptoms of nerve pain and nerve damage. These
include: multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome (a rare condition
in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves), myasthenia
gravis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Cancer . Cancer can
cause nerve pain and nerve damage in multiple ways. In some instances,
cancerous masses may push against or crush nerves. In other cases,
certain types of cancer may result in nutritional deficiencies that
affect nerve function. Additionally, chemotherapy and radiation may
produce nerve pain and nerve damage in certain individuals.
Compression/trauma. Anything that results in trauma or compression of
nerves can result in nerve pain and nerve damage. This includes pinched
nerves in the neck, crush injuries, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Diabetes. About 50% of people with diabetes suffer from nerve damage,
which becomes more likely as the disease progresses. Diabetic neuropathy
is a serious complication and may affect all three types of neurons.
Sensory nerves are most often affected, causing burning or numbness. If
you have diabetes and are experiencing symptoms of nerve pain or nerve
damage, you should consult a medical professional as soon as possible.
Drug side effects and toxic substances. Various substances that are
taken into the body intentionally or unintentionally have the ability to
cause nerve pain and nerve damage. These include medications, such as
chemotherapies for cancer and certain drugs used to treat HIV. Toxic
substances that may be ingested accidentally, including lead, arsenic,
and mercury, may also cause damage to your nerves.
Motor neuron
diseases. The motor neurons are nerves in your brain and spinal column
that communicate with the muscles throughout your body. Diseases that
affect these nerves, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also
called ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, can result in progressively
worsening nerve damage.
Nutritional deficiencies. Deficiencies of
certain nutrients, including vitamins B6 and B12, may produce symptoms
of nerve pain and nerve damage, including weakness or burning
sensations. Nutritional deficiencies that cause nerve damage may also
result from excessive alcohol ingestion or develop after gastric
surgery.
Infectious disease. Certain infectious diseases have the
ability to affect the nerves in your body. These conditions include Lyme
disease, the herpes viruses, HIV, and hepatitis C.
how Are Nerve Pain and Nerve Damage Treated?
In many instances, nerve damage cannot be cured entirely. But there are
various treatments that can reduce your symptoms. Because nerve damage
is often progressive, it is important to consult with a doctor when you
first notice symptoms. That way you can reduce the likelihood of
permanent damage.
Often, the first goal of treatment is to
address the underlying condition that's causing your nerve pain or nerve
damage. This may mean:
regulating blood sugar levels for people with diabetes
correcting nutritional deficiencies
changing medications when drugs are causing nerve damage
physical therapy or surgery to address compression or trauma to nerves
medications to treat autoimmune conditions
Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medications aimed at minimizing the nerve pain you are feeling. These may include:
pain relievers
tricyclic antidepressants
certain anti-seizure drugs
Homeopathic Remedies
Aconite While in Hering's Guiding Symptoms over seventy remedies are
mentioned as applicable in various neuralgias, yet there are a few that
come to mind and use much more frequently than others. Aconite is one of
these. It is almost a specific for facial neuralgias of congestive
form. It seems to have an elective action on the trigeminus nerve,
producing painful sensations. It corresponds to recent cases in young
subjects traceable to cold drafts, exposure to dry, cold winds, etc. The
special features are the continuous pain not only in the nerve, but in
the surroundings parts; the red, swollen face, tingling, great
excitement and intolerance of the pain; patient declares that something
must be done. According to Baehr and other observers, it acts better in
the higher potencies in neuralgia. It is also applicable to rheumatic
prosopalgia, with swelling of the face. The zygoma, cheek and
articulation of the jaw are favorite seats of the pain. Plantago major
is especially applicable to sharp neuralgic pains plying between the
teeth and ears. Otalgia finds a valuable remedy in Plantago. Chamomilla.
Neuralgia with great nervousness; pains uterly intolerable, worse at
night and from warmth, accompanied with heat of face, thirst, redness,
hot sweat, very impatient, can hardly answer a civil question. Of little
use in the lower potencies.
Colocynth This is also a remedy
for recent cases traceable to emotions, catarrh, or exposure, the
characteristic being tearing pressive pains worse from motion and touch
and relieved by rest and external warmth. The attacks are
paroxysmal,mostly on left side, though the sciatica is right-sided.
Abdominal neuralgias of a pure nervous type, not inflammatory. Ovarian
neuralgias are often greatly benefited by colocynth. The pains of
Colocynth are better from rest and pressure, but return as soon as
pressure is removed. Nux vomica has also proved useful in many cases.
Jousset places great reliance on it in high dilutions. Neuralgias about
the abdomen, worse on left side. Stannum pains gradually increase and
gradually decrease. "Sun neuralgias." Of great use in neuralgias of the
supraorbital nerve following intermittent fever and abuse of quinine.
Rhus. Neuralgia from eating,worse in damp weather. Spigelia. Baehr
claims first place for this remedy in the treatment of prosopalgia. The
pains are rheumatic, jerking,tearing,worse from dampness, contact,
motion,touch sending a shudder through the frame, are periodical and
attended with anxiety at the heart and restlessness or preceded by
palpitation. The location of the pain is in the nerves of the
forehead,orbit and teeth of upper jaw. There is often a sensation as if
the eye were too large. Ciliary neuralgias or leftsided prosopalgias
where the pain comes up over the head from the occiput; burning,sticking
pains,worse from change of weather,call for the remedy. It is not so
often indicated in chronic cases. Colchicum also has left-sided pains,a
kind of paralytic weakness, lacking the severity of Spigelia. Cimicifuga
has supra-orbital neuralgia, but it is usually reflex, dependent upon
uterine disturbances. This remedy produces a picture of myalgia, worse
at night;prosopalgia in nervous women, coming on afternoons and going
off at night. Left infra-mammary pains, which often indicate ovarian
troubles, will suggest Cimicifuga.
Belladonna. Hartmann lays
special emphasis on Belladonna for infra-orbital neuralgic, accompanied
with increase of tears and saliva. There are violent cutting pains
coming on towards evening, most violent about midnight; the paroxysms
are of long duration and there are symptoms of vascular excitement; the
pains radiate to temples, ears and nape; are worse from noise, motion ,
jar, chewing, cold air, etc., and are relieved by absolute rest and
warmth. In prosopalgia the face is swollen, bright red and the pain is
particularly severe; the pains come and go suddenly and hyperaesthesia
marks the remedy. Atropine sulphuricum 3 is recommended by Kafka in case
Belladonna fails. Hale also speaks highly of Atropine in neuralgias.
The indications seem to be intermittency of the pains, appearing and
disappearing suddenly. Jerking and twitching of the muscles mark the
remedy. China has neuralgic pains which are aggravated by touching the
parts, or by a draft of cold air. A malarial basis or complication is an
additional indications. Most neuralgias that are recurrent are on an
anaemic basis and here China often finds its indications. Belladonna has
a plethoric habit which strongly contrasts with China.
Arsenicum. The more purely nervous the affection the more effective is
Arsenicum. It has the well-known intermitting burning, stinging, hot
needle-pain, the distressed countenance, the restlessness and the
periodicity. It holds the first place in miasmatic neuralgias,
especially of malarial origin, neuralgias from influenza or simple
debility with great aggravation at approach of night, and relief from
external heat. The pain are severe and drive the patient from place to
place. It suits especially infra-orbital forms with a Hippocratic
countenance during the attack. Its effect is rapid, and sometimes rivals
a powerful dose of Opium. Among other remedies for malarial neuralgias
are: Natrum muriaticum. Neuralgias worse at seashore; ciliary neuralgias
worse at midday, affections from abuse of quinine. Cedron. Periodicity,
appearing every evening with clock-like regularity. Supra-orbital pains
worse on left side with burning in eyes. It especially suits the
trigeminal form due to malarial poisoning. Sulphur, China and Chininum
sulphuricum are also useful remedies in malarial neuralgias. Capsicum
has fine, acute, penetrating,burning neuralgic pains in the right malar
bone,worse by contact and by draft of air,and is especially severe just
as the patient is about to go to sleep. In prescribing Arsenicum in
neuralgia one must be careful not to give too low a potency, even the
6th will often aggravate, as the nerves are apt to be specially
irritated. Baehr says Arsenicum quiets nervous pain better than any
other medicine.
Platinum. A useful remedy where there is a
constrictive pain, numbness, profuse lachrymation, worse at night and at
rest. The pains are cramping, causing numbness and tingling; pain at
the root of the nose or in the other part of the body as if squeezed in a
vise. The pains also increase gradually and decrease gradually, as in
Stannum. Mercurius. Neuralgias from hollow teeth, worse at night.
Staphisagria. Neuralgias from hollow teeth, especially suitable to old
people with a mouth full of hollow stumps, which pain violently at
times. Platinum suits especially hysterical subjects who have profuse,
thick, black exhausting menses.
Mezereum. This remedy is
indicated by the spreading character of the pains, and the aggravation
from warmth; they are accompanied with chilliness and sensitiveness.
There is a stupefying pressure and the pains are worse at the midnight
hours. Especially useful in mercurial and syphilitic subjects. After the
attack there is a numbness remaining. It is a chief remedy in
intercostal neuralgia setting in with zona or shingles. Ranunculus
bulbosus is the remedy for intercostal neuralgia with sharp stitching
pains following the course of the nerves ; stitches in chest on every
change of weather , sore spot in chest. Among other remedies having
chest pains are: Gaultheria, pains in anterior mediastinum;
arnica,sore,bruised feeling; Rhus radicans, pains shoot to shoulder
blade; Senega, pain and soreness; Cimicifuga, etc. a psoric or arthritic
soil will demand as a systemic remedy an antipsoric such as Sulphur or
Lycopodium, and if of syphilitic origin high dilutions of Syphilinum
will clear the field. Mezereum is most useful in ciliary neuralgia when
there is a cold feeling in the eye, and it is one of the best remedies
for neuralgias which are reflex from decayed teeth.
Verbascum.
Pressure, tensive pain in the zygomatic bones worse from pressure,
mastication and cold air. The parts feel crushed, as if squeezed between
tongs; aggravated by talking and sneezing. Kalmia has a neuralgia
brought on by exposure to cold,involving the teeth of the upper
jaw,rending pains, worse from worry or mental excitement, worse on right
side. It has cured some of the most severe and long lasting cases. The
tincture is recommended by Cowperthwaite, but other observes find the
higher potencies quite as useful. The neuralgia is not confined to the
facial nerve, but extends to the sides of the neck and shoulders.
Magnesia phosphorica. This remedy has an excellent clinical record in
neuralgias. It is curative in a typical facial neuralgia where the pains
are intermitting, darting and are relieved by warmth, this relief from
warmth being the guiding symptom; neuralgias involving whole of side of
head and neck. pulsatilla is one of the best remedies for acute facial
neuralgias of rheumatic origin. Allium cepa. Nueralgias of stumps after
amputation, also Hypericum. Prunus is frequently promptly curative in
severe ciliary neuralgias with agonizing lightning-like pains, worse
right side.
Calcarea carbonica is especially adapted to
neuralgias in those of a leuco-phlegmatic temperament. It has pain from
right mental foramen along jaw to ear, attended with frequent urination,
and relieved by warm applications. Scrofulous constitution, disposition
to grow fat, flabby muscles, aversion to cold air, the least cold air
goes through fat, flabby muscles, aversion to cold air, the least cold
air goes through and through, feet are always damp and cold. These are
valuable symptoms. To treat neuralgias successfully one should not rely
alone on the symptoms, but take into consideration the neuralgic
temperament and the soil that produces such, whether of psoric, sycotic
or some other toxaemic basis.
Agaricus is used when muscles on
one side of the face are stiff and twitching, or grimacing happens on
the other side. Agaricus helps those who are excitable and have health
anxiety and overacute senses.
Overwhelming weakness, chilliness
and paralysis on the left side may be helped by Cadmium sulphuratum.
The patient could also have a distorted mouth and have extreme
difficulty closing one eye.
Causticum helps when the paralysis
has developed gradually on the right side, opening and closing the mouth
has become difficult, and the patient inadvertently bites the inside of
his cheek or tongue. The person does best in warmth and may be weak and
restless
Cocculus deals with one-sided facial paralysis that
accompanies tension or pain in the other cheek that increases when the
mouth is being opened. Dizziness, weakness, numbness and a worsening of
symptoms may occur as an indication that this remedy is needed.
Nux vomica also tends to be used for those with one-sided paralysis
that is usually on the left and goes along with a person who is
hypersensitive to odors, sounds, light and a personality that is
irritable and impatient.
Platina (Platinum) can be used in
those who have a distortion that raises one eyebrow and also causes numb
cheeks, lips and other body parts.
Arnica Montana is best for
those who have sustained an injury prior to getting Bell's Palsy
symptoms. They may have also experienced grief, financial loss, aching
limbs, and an aversion to tobacco.
Hypericum performatum can be
utilized when there has been nerve damage and the jaw begins to lock.
It may be needed when the patient has spasms and asthmatic attacks.
When the mouth and face begin to feel stiff and the patient is sensitive to cold air, you can use Mezerum.
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