Do you have nerve damage? Nerve damage can result from a variety of causes: traumatic injuries, exposure to toxins, infections, metabolic problems, and even inherited causes.
Oftentimes, it’s more than just an inconvenience. You could be experiencing stabbing pain in the middle of the night. Or you might be feeling prickling, tingling, or burning all day long. This can make sleeping a challenge, and doing even simple daily tasks can be a major chore.
Fortunately, surgical intervention can help repair damaged nerves. And at Coastal Empire Orthopedics, Dr. Jonathan Shults is an experienced orthopedic surgeon who can help you decide if surgery is the best option for you.
Depending on what type of nerve damage you have, you experience different symptoms. After all, your nerves are involved in everything you do. There are three types of nerves:
Autonomic nerves control heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and body temperature. If this is the type of nerve damage you’re suffering from, you may experience the inability to sense chest pain, excessive sweating, lightheadedness, dry eyes and mouth, constipation, and bladder and sexual dysfunction.
Motor nerves control movement and actions. You may experience weakness, twitching, paralysis, or muscle atrophy if you have motor nerve damage.
Sensory nerves are what allow your skin and muscles to send information to your spinal cord and brain. If you have sensory nerve damage, you may experience sensitivity, numbness, tingling, prickling, burning, pain, or problems with positional awareness.
Nerve damage can negatively affect the quality of your life and can be an ongoing issue if not treated.
There are many ways of treating nerve damage. So if your nerve damage and pain isn’t severe, you may be able to manage it using one of the following methods:
Consult with your physician before trying any of these management treatments.
If more conservation treatments are ineffective, you might be a candidate for surgery. There are several situations in which surgery is recommended:
If you have a closed nerve injury and clinical treatments and electrodiagnostic studies don’t work after three months, surgery is generally recommended.
If you have an open nerve injury, Dr. Shults generally recommends surgery immediately.
With a crushed nerve injury, as with a closed nerve injury, surgery is often recommended if you don’t improve after after three months of more conservative treatments.
The exact process for surgery can vary depending on the cause and the location of the pain. There are many cases where the pain comes from pressure on a nerve or several nerves. When this pressure is removed, oftentimes the pain also goes with it.
Depending on your condition, small incisions can help remove the pressure on the nerves. In other cases, the nerves need to be divided and rerouted.
Sometimes, the procedure leaves you with numbness, but many patients find this to be a better option than living with the pain.
Is your nerve damage negatively affecting your daily life? Have you explored other options only to find no relief? Surgical intervention can help repair your damaged nerves, allowing you to live more comfortably. Is surgery right for you? The only way to know is to get in touch with us at Coastal Empire Orthopedics. Don’t delay — call today or book a consultation using our online portal.
