Man living with diabetic nerve pain in his arm
By Dr. Bussell - August 22, 2017

Pain comes in many shapes and sizes, especially when we’re talking about peripheral neuropathy or nerve pain. It’s common to experience pain in the arms, hands, legs or feet and feel a tingling, burning or stabbing sensation that won’t stop.

However, there are many other symptoms to nerve pain that can trigger the onset of chronic pain. First, let’s take a closer look at peripheral neuropathy.

Each person has a string of peripheral nerves that begin at the brain and spinal cord and run down toward our hands and feet. These nerves also stretch to our internal organs, mouth and face. Unfortunately, it’s our hands and feet that are the first to experience the unrelenting signs of nerve pain.

The purpose of these nerves is to relay signals of physical sensation back to the brain. For example, touching a hot plate or picking up a cold glass of water. If an individual is showing signs of numbness in the hands, it may be hard to get the message to the brain.

So, what causes certain kinds of nerve pain symptoms? Well, it starts with three types of nerves within the peripheral nervous system. Each set of nerves is designed with a specific purpose and have their own unique symptoms.

Sensory

Sensory nerves relay sensations from the skin back to the brain. If you’re suffering with nerve pain, the following symptoms may be caused by damage to the sensory nerves.

  1. Extreme sensitivity to touch
  2. Numbness and tingling (typically felt in the hands and feet) — it’s a challenge to pick up things or walk
  3. Stabbing or burning pain (will vary from moderate to extreme)

Motor

Motor nerves or “efferent nerves” relay impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles. Individuals experiencing these symptoms often have trouble standing on their own, walking, going up and down stairs, picking up utensils or turning a door handle.

  1. Loss of balance
  2. Muscle weakness
  3. Muscle cramps

Autonomic

Our autonomic nerves regulate the internal functions of our bodies, such as breathing and heart rate. Symptoms caused by nerve damage to the autonomic nerves include:

  1. Excessive sweating
  2. Shortness of breath
  3. Dizziness
  4. Lack of bladder control
  5. Trouble seeing
  6. Digestive problems (constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, trouble swallowing)

As you can see, the signs vary between each set of nerves and can affect individuals differently. If you’re experiencing any or all of these symptoms, please consult with your doctor. Your doctor may recommend  INF™ treatment as an option to reduce nerve pain.

Take the Next Step

If you’re suffering from nerve pain, our Neuropathic Therapy Center may be able to help using a breakthrough physical therapy treatment called Intraneural Facilitation or INF.™ For more information and to schedule an evaluation, call 909-558-6799 or request information online.

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