Neurites is defined as the damage to a nerve.It is caused by:
1) Accident with direct injury to a nerve
2) Pressure upon a nerve due to poorly healing fracture, bone fragments of fracture, scar tissue or tumor growth
3) Pressure upon a nerve as it exits the spinal column
4) Deficiency disease e.g.
- beriberi from the lack of vitamin C
- chronic alcoholism
- advanced diabetes
- toxic reagents like lead
Polyneurities is more complicated case of neurities involving many of the peripheral nerves
The symptoms of neuropathy include:
1) Tingling or pins and needles and numbness in the hands or feet
2) Muscular weakness and wasting of muscles in involved area
3) Absent or reduced reflexes
4) Loss of sensation in affected part
5) Pain
Brachial neuropathy
Brachial neuropathy is a term applied to a painful nerve affliction of an arm. It may be caused by a herniated disk in the neck region, osteoarthritis compressing a nerve root, cervical rib (a congenital anomaly) or it may follow fracture of a lower cervical vertebra, the shoulder, or the upper arm.
Sciatica
It is a general term used when the pain radiates down the thigh and leg. It is frequently caused by a herniatrd disk, osteoarthritis, or a narrow vertebral canal. It may also occur as a result of injury or diabetes.
Trigeminal Beuralgia
This is a disorder of the fifth cranial nerve, the trigeminal, which supplies the face. This is a very painful condition characterized by episodes of sudden excruciating pain in the face coming in paroxysms and lasting for a short time. The attacks may be brought on by chewing, talking, exposure to cold, or by touching a sensitive point on the face or the mouth. These paroxysms of pain have a tendency to recur over a period of time varying from weeks to months. Effective relief of pain may be obtained in some patients with Dilantin or Tegretol. Should medication fail to relieve pain, other procedures may become necessary to perform. Destruction of the nerve can frequently be accomplished through the use of radio-frequency current administered through a needle placed in the region from which the nerve originated at the base of the skull. In the exceptional case, it may become necessary to sever the nerve surgically in order to produce lasting relief of pain. This procedure, however, leaves the patient with a permanently numb face.
Shingles
This disease is also called herpes zoster. It is the inflammation of one of the posterior roots of the spinal cord. It is characterized by severe, persisting burning pain and a skin eruption of small blisters along the course of the nerve. It is believed to be caused by a virus closely related to the one producing chickenpox. The pain may be sever and last from a few to many weeks or even months, however in most cases, it subsides on its own. There is no specific treatment to cure this disease. Pain-relieving medications may be required. The great majority of patients get well by themselves.
Bell's Palsy (facial paralysis)
It is an inflammation of the facial nerve resulting in paralysis of half of the face. The face and mouth sag on the affected side and the eye fails to close completely. It may occur at any age, and affect any sex. The cause is not known but many people attribute it to having been exposed to a draft over a prolonged period of time. Facial paralysis usually lasts for two or three months and then has a tendency to clear up by itself. Most cases make a near-complete recover, but a small proportion of people is left with some permanent weakness of the involved side of the face. There are several treatments for facial paralysis. Since the eye fails to close completely, it should be protected by glasses to prevent infections. Electrical stimulation is often applied to the weak facial muscles. This therapy is still questionable. Steroids (cortisone etc) given from the onset may protect the nerve from permanent damage.
On to the next disorder- Cerebral Palsy
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