Inflammatory Reaction of the Nerve

Nerve inflammation can cause a wide variety of symptoms, depending on the type of nerve affected and the cause. Common causes of nerve inflammation include physical trauma, infection, autoimmune diseases, and chemical irritation. Symptoms may include pain, numbness and tingling, muscle weakness, and difficultycoordinating movement. Treatment must address the underlying cause and may include medications, physical therapy, or nerve blocks.

Causes of Nerve Inflammation

Nerve inflammation can result from a wide range of issues. Some common causes include:

Physical trauma: Damage to a nerve from a bone fracture, sports injuries, car accidents, or other physical trauma can cause nerve inflammation.
Infection: Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections may cause nerve inflammation.
Autoimmune conditions: People with autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, are more likely to develop nerve inflammation.
Chemical irritation: Exposure to certain chemicals, such as lead or mercury, can damage nerve fibers and cause nerve inflammation.

Symptoms of Nerve Inflammation

Common symptoms of nerve inflammation may include:

pain near the affected nerve or radiating down an arm or leg
tingling or burning sensations in the affected area
muscle weakness
difficultycoordinating movement
difficultycoordinating movement

Diagnosis and Treatment of Nerve Inflammation

Diagnosing the cause of nerve inflammation can be challenging because symptoms are varied and may have other causes. For example, what may appear to be nerve inflammation may be from a pinched nerve, a herniated disc, or another type of physical trauma. Common diagnostic tests include MRI scans, CT scans, X-rays, nerve conduction tests, and electromyography. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include medications, physical therapy, and nerve blocks.