Peripheral nerve palsies are a form of neurological illness that can be caused by trauma, injury, nerve compression, a hereditary disorder, or a disease like diabetes.
Your peripheral nerves are found outside your spinal cord and brain. Nerves that reach to the limbs, as well as various detecting organs including your skin, eyes, ears, and nose, are included. Palsy causes paralysis and loss of sensation in the affected areas of the body.
Mononeuropathy is one type of peripheral nerve palsy. It describes any situation in which a single nerve or nerve group is injured or malfunctioning. This damage is most usually caused by bodily accident or repeated motion, but disease can also be a factor. Physical disability reduces nerve cells’ or their coverings’ ability to process messages from the brain.
What are some types of Peripheral Nerve Palsy:
There are various types of peripheral nerve palsies, including:
- Peroneal Nerve Palsies: Peroneal nerve palsies afflict the nerve located at the top of the calf muscle, right outside the knee. Compressing or striking this nerve may make it difficult to elevate your foot.
- Radial Nerve Palsies: Radial nerve palsies damage the radial nerve, which is located on the bottom of the upper arm.
- Ulnar Nerve Palsies: Ulnar nerve palsies afflict the “funny bone,” a nerve that runs down the ulna bone at the elbow. If you compress or strike this nerve, your fingers may tingle.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve that runs through the carpal tunnel, a bony region of the wrist, becomes crushed and inflamed.
Common symptoms of peripheral nerve palsy include numbness, tingling, and paralysis. The location of those symptoms will differ depending on which nerve was struck or squeezed.
What are some factors of risk to look out for?
Factors that influence your likelihood of getting peripheral nerve palsy include:
- Excessive drinking
- Vitamin deficiency in diet
- Diabetes and family history
- Various autoimmune illnesses and infections
- Repeated motions
Minor palsies can be treated with more conservative measures such as corticosteroid injections and splinting. This may assist to minimize edema and inflammation caused by peripheral nerve paralysis. If treatment fails or stops functioning, surgery may be required for peripheral nerve paralysis.
Peripheral nerve palsy is a frustrating and distressing condition. However, with early detection and appropriate treatment, many patients can restore function and enhance their quality of life.
Remember that being aware of symptoms and risk factors is essential. Numbness, tingling, and paralysis, especially in specific locations, may indicate nerve injury. If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.