Peripheral nerves are the extensive network of nerves that link the brain and spinal cord to all other parts of the body and are fragile and easily damaged.
A nerve injury can interfere with the communication between the brain and the muscles controlled by the nerve, affecting a person’s ability to move certain muscles or feel normal sensations.
Nerve injuries can occur anywhere in the body. Injuries can include those to the sciatic and radial nerves, as well as brachial plexus injuries.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, running from the lower back down the back of the leg. It controls muscles in the leg and foot. Prolonged pressure on the sciatic nerve, over time, will injure the nerve.
Other causes of sciatic nerve injury could include a cut or blow to the pelvis area or leg, or during surgery. Research has shown that in about 1 of every 100 cases of hip replacement surgery, the sciatic nerve is cut or damaged during surgery. The patient subsequently develops symptoms of sciatic nerve damage.
The radial nerve controls muscles in the arm and hand. Radial nerve injuries have numerous causes, including a bone break in the arm, overuse of the arm from athletics or work, improper use of crutches, hanging arms for too long over an armchair or lying too long on top of the arm.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that originates from the spinal cord and controls muscle movements and sensation in the shoulder, arm and hand. Trauma to this network – most commonly caused by auto or motorcycle accidents, sports injuries, falls, immunologic injury (abnormal immune response), hereditary factors, or childbirth (Erb’s palsy or obstetrical brachial plexus) – can leave the arm without function. Tumors, compression and irradiation can also affect the brachial plexus.
Signs that one or more nerves have been injured vary, depending on the injury’s cause and severity. Symptoms may be immediate or develop gradually over time.
Among the symptoms that indicate a nerve injury are:
- Pain, with the degree of intensity ranging from a tingling sensation to extreme, burning pain
- Loss of feeling or abnormal sensations
- Weakness in the affected body part, such as hand weakness, with a tendency to drop objects.
- Loss of motor function, such as a hand or leg being difficult to move
- Loss of active range of motion, such as difficulty lifting fingers or flexing the wrist