If you suffer from the following symptoms, you may have a nerve injury:

  • Pain (unrelenting, shooting, electric-like, burning)
  • Tingling or pins and needles sensation
  • Numbness
  • Weakness or loss of movement (paralysis) 

 

What is a nerve?

Nerve is a complex structure. It is akin to wiring of the human body. It connects the outside world to the brain and in turn conveys signals from the brain to the muscles such that we can feel, hear, speak and move. It forms the crucial linkage of our human interactions.

Injury to this delicate structure can lead to pain and loss of function. The effects can be debilitating. 

 

Causes of Nerve Injuries

Nerves can be injured in a number of ways, including:

  • Crush / compression
  • Stretch / traction
  • Laceration / transection
  • Vascular injury
  • Radiation injury
  • Electrical injury
  • Thermal injury
  • Metabolic disturbance (diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse) 

 

 

Key message

Nerve injury occurs on a spectrum of severity and is often mixed.

Prompt treatment of a nerve injury leads to a better outcome.

Time is muscle!