3 Telltale Signs of Nerve Damage You Shouldn't Ignore

Without nerves, no part of your body would function normally. These clusters of cells send electrical signals that allow for major functions, such as sensation and movement. 

When you have nerve damage, due to an injury or chronic condition, like spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or arthritis, you can experience a range of challenges that affect your everyday life.

Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill diagnose and treat nerve damage to help you better thrive.

Read on to learn more about nerve damage, including three signs you shouldn’t ignore.

1. Numbness or tingling

When nerves are damaged or compressed, they send garbled or incorrect messages to your brain. This misfiring can lead to unusual sensations, like that pins-and-needles feeling when a part of your body “falls asleep.”

In some cases, nerve damage leads to a complete loss of sensation in the area. As a result, even minor injuries, such as a small cut, can go ignored and become infected. That’s a major reason diabetes-related nerve damage (neuropathy) can lead to ulcers, tissue death, and even amputation.

2. Radiating pain

Common conditions, like disc herniation, can lead to nerve damage that causes radiating pain. The pain can start around affected nerves in your spine and move down one side of your body. Radiating pain involving your sciatic nerve (sciatica), can stem from or cause nerve damage. 

Your pain may start out mild and feel like basic, localized back pain, only to intensify and radiate elsewhere over time without treatment.

3. Bladder or bowel dysfunction (with other signs)

A variety of issues can fuel bladder or bowel dysfunction. If you develop poor bladder or bowel problems in addition to numbness, tingling, or pain, however, nerve damage is a likely culprit.

Disrupted signals between your brain and the muscles that control your bladder or bowel from damaged nerves can keep the muscles from tightening and relaxing properly. This can cause diarrhea, constipation, incontinence, or total loss of bladder or bowel control. 

Completely losing bladder or bowel function is an emergency that requires prompt care. Early treatment can help prevent it.

All of these issues are linked with nerve damage from spinal cord injuries, stroke, and chronic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

Nerve damage treatment

Your ideal nerve damage treatment will depend on the underlying cause, your symptoms, and your overall health. After a comprehensive exam, our team may recommend:

• Oral medication
• Epidural injections
• Nerve blocks
• Physical therapy

If your nerve symptoms carry on after conservative care, you may be a candidate for spine surgery. Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive techniques.

To learn more about signs of nerve damage or get started with expert care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.