Peripheral Nerve Damage

Symptoms vary depending on which nerve or nerves are damaged. However, peripheral nerve damage symptoms often include:

• numbness

• tingling 

• prickling 

• throbbing or burning

• sharp pain

• extreme sensitivity when touched

While these symptoms will often be felt in your feet and hands, the sensations may also spread to your legs and arms.

You may also experience:

• falls

• decreased coordination

• weaker muscles

• excessive sweat or lack of sweat

• dizziness

• lightheadedness

• bowel and digestive problems

• bladder issues

Peripheral nerve damage can have several causes.

Injury

Your nerves can be injured if you experience a trauma, such as a fall, sports injury, or a car or bike accident.

Nerve compression

Nerves can become compressed when they’re subjected to pressure. This can happen if you have to wear a cast, use crutches, or make repetitive motions (such as swinging a heavy tool or typing).

Health conditions

Some medical and health conditions can cause peripheral nerve damage, the most common being diabetes. Others include autoimmune diseases, viral and bacterial infections, cancerous and noncancerous growths and tumours, bone marrow disorders, kidney and liver diseases, and thyroid problems.

Risk factors

You’re more at risk of experiencing peripheral nerve damage if you have:

• diabetes

• uncontrolled blood sugar levels

• a lack of vitamin B12

• a family history of peripheral nerve damage

• a job that requires you to make repetitive motions

• alcohol misuse

If you think you may have experienced peripheral nerve damage, you’ll see your consultant for an initial consultation. 

During the appointment, they’ll ask about your symptoms and medical history. They’re also likely to conduct a neurological examination to check your reflexes, balance, coordination, and whether you can feel certain sensations. 

To make an accurate diagnosis, your consultant will need to run some other tests. These may include: 

• blood tests

• a CT scan or an MRI scan

• an electromyography (EMG)

• a nerve biopsy

It’s possible to prevent peripheral nerve damage if you manage and treat the underlying health conditions that cause it. Avoiding repetitive movements will also decrease your risk.

There are other steps you can take to boost your nerve health and reduce your risk further. These include:

• exercising regularly 

• stopping smoking

• limiting your alcohol intake

• eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in vitamin B12

It’s important to investigate, diagnose, and treat peripheral nerve damage. If it’s left untreated, it can lead to a range of other medical issues based on the cause. These include infections, blood circulation problems, heart rhythm changes, further injuries, and more frequent falls.

Your consultant will recommend the best treatment for you based on your test results and the underlying cause. Your options may include:

• oral pain relief

• other oral medication

• topical medication

• physical therapy

• surgery

At Welbeck, our neurologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.