Question

Does nerve damage ever go away?

Answer 1

Nerve damage does sometimes go away, but it depends on how severe the nerve damage is.

Nerves that are not severely damaged can often recover slowly over a period of months and some nerve damage may take years to heal and recover.

If your nerves or nerve is bruised or traumatized, but has not been cut, then the nerve damage should recover over 6 to 12 weeks.

A nerve that has been cut will grow at 1 mm per day after around 4 weeks of rest following nerve injury.

Some people with nerve damage continue to notice improvement to their nerves healing over many months.

Many people with peripheral neuropathy live full and active lives.

Symptoms of nerve damage like numbness, pain or balance problems can require management and lifestyle adjustments, but these issues and challenges can often be addressed effectively with proper support and treatment.

Some people experience permanent nerve damage and others recover from the nerve damage.

The recovery and whether or not the nerve damage can go away and be cured will depend on the severeness of the nerve damage.

Nerve damage, which also known as peripheral neuropathy, involves the injury to nerves that causes pain, tingling, numbness, weakness or burning sensations, often in the hands and the feet.

Common causes of nerve damage are toxins, infections, diabetes and trauma.

Treatment for nerve damage can take months and can involve medication, physical therapy and sometimes surgery.

Trauma like pressure, stretching or cutting of nerves can cause nerve damage, often due to injury.

Medical conditions that can cause nerve damage or are diabetes, autoimmune diseases and infections.

Toxins and medications that can cause nerve damage are alcohol abuse, chemotherapy, and exposure to mercury and lead.

And chronic compression like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can also cause nerve damage.

Symptoms of nerve damage can include sensory changes like numbness or hypoesthesia, tingling or a pins and needles feeling, burning or a heightened sensitivity also known as allodynia.

Other symptoms of nerve damage can also include muscle weakness, twitching, cramping, or muscle atrophy and autonomic dysfunction, like digestive issues, dizziness upon standing or bladder problems.

Types of nerve injuries include neuropraxia, axonotmesis and neurotmesis.

Neuropraxia is the mildest form of nerve injury and nerve damage, which involves temporary compression or stretching.

Axonotmesis is more severe nerve damage where the nerve fibers are disrupted, but the nerve sheath remains intact.

And Neurotmesis is the most severe form of nerve damage, which involves complete cutting or tearing of the nerve.