What Are the Types of Nerve Damage?

Neuropathy is the classic term used to describe disorders affecting the nervous system, including damage to the nerves. There are many different types of nerve damage resulting from a variety of causes and resulting in a wide range of symptoms. No matter which nerve is damaged, the most important thing is to avoid permanent damage by finding an experienced neurologist so that an accurate diagnosis and treatment can be obtained.

Definition

• Nerve damage can affect any nerve in the body, and the severity can range from complete loss of function to a pressure on the nerve that's temporarily interrupting the nerve signals. The Neuropathy Association states that there are more than 100 different types of nerve damage, and each one is defined by the nerve that's involved. Its website includes a list of the different types with detailed information. The most common form is called polyneuropathy, which affects the legs and feet. Diabetes is a primary cause of nerve damage, but other causes include autoimmune disorders, tumors, trauma, heredity, infections and nutritional imbalances. Physicians can't pinpoint a cause in about 30 percent of the cases.

Autonomic Nerves

• The nerves in the autonomic nervous system control functions that are independent of conscious thought, such as blood pressure, digestion and body temperature. Damage to autonomic nerves causes symptoms of irregular sweating (too much or too little), dry eyes and mouth, dizziness upon standing, constipation, problems with digestion, intolerance to exercise and bladder dysfunction.

Motor Nerves

• Motor nerves control your movements by sending information from the brain through the spinal cord to the muscles. When motor nerves are damaged, the symptoms include twitching, paralysis, weakness and muscle atrophy.

Sensory Nerves

• Sensory nerves pick up information from the environment and send signals through the nerves in the spinal cord up to the brain, where the information is interpreted. Damage to these nerves results in symptoms of tingling, pain, numbness, itching or burning, or unusual sensations often described as electric-like, freezing or tightening.

Diabetic Neuropathy

• According to the Neuropathy Association, 30 percent of all neuropathies are caused by diabetes. This type of nerve damage is called diabetic neuropathy. High blood sugar can cause damage to any of the nerve fibers, but the legs and feet are most often affected. The four types of diabetic neuropathy are peripheral, autonomic, proximal and focal. Peripheral neuropathy damages the feet, legs, arms and hands, causing numbness, sharp pain, tingling, burning, loss of balance, muscle weakness and potentially serious foot problems. Autonomic diabetic neuropathy affects autonomic functions as described above. The proximal type affects the hips and thighs, causing severe pain and eventually muscle weakness. Focal neuropathy is more common in older adults with diabetes. It happens suddenly and involves a single nerve, typically in the head, torso or eyes.