The human body and all its pieces are a very important topic to be aware of. Because we only get one body, it is our job to listen when it speaks to us. There are a number of diseases and illnesses linked to many symptoms and/or places throughout the body. Some people come across pinched nerves. Nerve damage, however, is a serious topic considering that that nervous system affects almost every move we make. In order to effectively handle nerve issues, it’s best to catch it in its early stages.
Here are a few signs of nerve damage that should be checked out as soon as you notice them:
Increased Bathrooms Visits
Many people, including doctors and medical officials, may associate constantly having to use the bathroom with a bladder issue. While problems with the bladder may be a big reason for increased bathroom habits, nerve damage can be a reason as well. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) says that nerve signaling can be disrupted in 1 of 3 ways: loss of signals normally sent, inappropriate signaling when there shouldn’t be any, or errors that distort the messages being sent. A lot of the muscles used in bladder control are manual but nerves around the area respond to pressure and automatically send a message to the brain that the bladder needs to be emptied. In the same sense, nerves around the intestinal tract promote the smooth flow of waste out of the body. If these nerves are damaged, it could send false messages to your brain regarding the bladder or lead to constipation.
Numb, Tingly, or Burning Sensations
“Damage to large sensory fibers harms the ability to feel vibrations and touch,” NINDS reported. Things like pressure, stimulation, and pain response are all linked to these nerves as well. Of course, if any of these nerves are damaged, they can send confusing messages to your brain. If there is a constant numbness or tingling in your fingers or feet (two of the most sensitive places on the body) it may be time to explore the possibility of nerve damage. If not caught early enough, this could lead to nerve pain. If there are areas of the body where you feel no pain at all, that area may be damaged as well. Pain is one of the body’s natural responses, so if you feel very little pain there is nothing communicating to your body that further damage is occurring.
Difficulty Moving Parts of the Body
There are times when difficulty moving a part of the body is normal. Stiff joints and muscles along with illnesses like arthritis can impair some places. However, the majority of the time lack of involuntary movements can be due to damaged nerves. This loss of motor control can also be found in people who have issues with balance. The body makes coordinated moves to ensure that it can support its own weight and mass. Nerves and muscles send signals to the brain regarding this information, so if you are feeling as if your body just won’t move the way you want it to move, you might’ve found the explanation. As mentioned before, NINDS states that the loss of signals or errors in signals may be the culprit.
Pain in One Leg/Muscle Twitching
Pain in one leg that originated around the lower back can be a sign of damage near the spine and sciatica—a pinching of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back all the way down the legs. It can stem from other conditions or just a mass amount of pressure on the nerve from a herniated disk. According to NINDS, muscle twitching (medically known as fasciculation) can be a sign of muscle weakness or that your muscles are being overworked. Nonetheless, this does not rule out other serious nerve problems. There are multiple pre-existing conditions like Multiple Sclerosis that can impact the nervous system and cause spasms.
Nerve pain can be a very uncomfortable thing to have to deal with. Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., says that most physicians are still not trained in nerve pain and will prescribe medications like Motrin that are only moderately effective. According to Dr. Teitelbaum, keeping up with your vitamin intake, hormone levels, and keeping your body’s natural systems flowing can help get damaged nerves back on the right track. He warns, however, that nerve repair is a lengthy process and should be taken very seriously.
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