These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Damage to head
Question: A few years ago I received a very hard blow to the top left
of my head, about 2 inches above my forehead and an inch to
the left of center. I was not cut and I did not have a concussion. The
point of contact of the blow is very painful when pressed
and other points of pain have appeared all over the left
side of my head. Spasms of pain occur which can be sharp or
have a tingling sensation. I also get a tingling sensation occasionally
on my left cheek.
X-rays have revealed no damage to the skull.
Doctors have said I have nerve damage. I would like to know
if this sounds right. Why is it spreading and is there
anything I can do?
Some days are good and I have few spasms, but other days are
really bad, particularly if I get hot.
Would vitamins help nerve damage?
Answer: You probably have developed a neuroma at the site of injury. Occasionally these can be excised or blocked in a pain clinic. See a neurologist.
Nerve Stimulation
Question: My husband has had 4 neck surgeries in the last five years.
He now has bone spurs and constriction of 3 more vertebrae in his neck. Our Neurosurgeon has decided to not do surgery again, but wants to implant a nerve stimulator to “short circuit ” the pain to his brain.
Answer: I am sure that he has other patients who have had this procedure done. Pain specialists could also help out with information and talking to other patients who have had this performed.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Question: My 33 yr. old son has been diagnosed with PN. What are symptons, prognosis, treatment. It has affected his feet, legs, arms, hands, bowels and urinary tract. He needs a cane and/or a wheelchair if he will be on his feet very long. Is this a permantly disabeling condition. What are the causes, treatments?
Answer: There are several types of degenerative nerve diseases. The most common is peripheral neuropathy. This is a symmetrical loss of feeling in the feet progressing up the leg. About the time that loss of sensation is at the knee, there will occur a loss of feeling in the fingers as well-with progressive loss. Peripheral neuropathy represents a slow dying of the neuron bodies. Since the nucleus for the nerve body is located in the spinal cord, the nerves with the
longest processes are affected first-the nerves in the leg. As the nerves slowly get damaged and die the shorter nerves are affected.
There are numerous causes for peripheral neuropathy. The evaluation should start with a complete physical and proceed to nerve conduction testing if no underlying disease is found. Nerve biopsy is necessary in progressive cases. The most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is Diabetes Mellitus. Control of the Diabetes will slow the disease. Currently, research is ongoing with different drugs to minimize Diabetic periperal neuropathy. These are probably 2-3 years away from being released. The most easily treated causes are B12 Deficiency and Hypothyroidism.
