While some nerve injuries can heal on their own, for the most severe cuts, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in complex nerve reconstruction can be critical to recovery.
They can repair both the tendons and nerves in the hand.
Can nerve damage in hands be repaired?
Nonsurgical treatment of nerve injuries can include rest, splinting, icing, and physical therapy.
If the nerve has been severed, then surgery will be necessary to rejoin the disconnected ends and restore function and feeling
.
What kind of doctor treats nerve damage in hand?
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you will greatly benefit from the expertise of an
orthopedic doctor
, particularly one who specializes in the diagnoses and treatment of conditions and injuries that affect the nerves, blood vessels, bones, joints, and soft tissues of the hand.
Does orthopedics deal with nerve damage?
Orthopedic doctors and surgeons specialize in the spine and joints, which affect the whole body, so
they are highly skilled in addressing pinched nerves
and their effects on various parts of the body.
How long does nerve damage in hand take to heal?
If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over
6-12 weeks
. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of ‘rest’ following your injury. Some people notice continued improvement over many months.
How do nerves regenerate in hands?
Digital nerve repair
is a microsurgical procedure to reconnect the severed ends of a nerve in the finger or hand. In this intricate procedure, the surgeon matches up the nerve fibers and uses tiny stiches to sew together the outer layer of tissue that insulates and protects the nerve.
What can be done for nerve damage in the hand?
Depending on the severity of the injury and the patient’s medical history, a hand specialist might recommend
rest and immobilization
. Or a physician could determine that occupational therapy is the best answer. In some cases, surgery could be necessary to decompress, graft, or repair the nerve.
What does nerve damage feel like in your hand?
Damage to the nerves that control motor function can cause weakness, twitching and paralysis in the hand, wrist and arm. Sensory nerve damage symptoms include
pain, numbness, tingling, increased sensitivity, burning and problems positioning the hand correctly
.
How do doctors test for nerve damage?
A nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test — also called a nerve conduction study (NCS)
— measures how fast an electrical impulse moves through your nerve. NCV can identify nerve damage. During the test, your nerve is stimulated, usually with electrode patches attached to your skin.
Is nerve damage in hand permanent?
Hand or wrist nerve injury complications
In some cases, if the nerve is completely severed, it can result in permanent loss of sensation or feeling
. Complete recovery may not be possible for some nerve injuries.
Do nerves in the hand repair themselves?
Occasionally, the nerve is bruised, and may heal on its own in time
. However, if a nerve is cut or crushed, it may need surgical treatment in order to help improve or restore function to the hand or arm.
Do damaged nerves ever heal?
Nerves recover slowly and maximal recovery may take many months or several years
. You’ll need regular checkups to make sure your recovery stays on track. If your injury is caused by a medical condition, your doctor will treat the underlying condition.
Can you do surgery for nerve damage?
The pain, tingling, numbness and other discomforts of peripheral nerve disorders can often be treated successfully with physical therapy and other nonsurgical methods. But
in some cases, surgery offers the best chance of lasting relief
.
How do they fix nerves?
Surgical nerve repair involves
exploration of the injured nerve and removal of injured tissue or scar from the nerve endings
. After that, a nerve can be directly reconnected if there is enough length on the ends to allow for a good quality repair without tension.
When does nerve damage become permanent?
As a specialist in peripheral nerve surgery, Dr. Seruya wants his patients to know that after a period of
12-18 months
nerve damage can become permanent.
What are signs of nerve regeneration?
It is important to differentiate this
tingling
from the pain sometimes produced by pressure on an injured nerve. The pain is a sign of irritation of the nerve; tingling is a sign of regeneration; or more precisely, tingling indicates the presence of young axons, in the process of growing.
Can nerve damage be repaired naturally?
They can repair themselves if the injury is not too severe
. Damage to nerves can be severe. Because of their structure and function, nerves do not heal as quickly as some body parts do, but sometimes nerve damage can heal on its own.
How do you encourage nerve regeneration?
Continuous training (slow walking at 10 meters/min for one hour per day)
was effective in promoting nerve regeneration in males but not females and interval training (four repetitions of short sprints at 20 meters/min for 2 minutes following by 5 minutes of rest) was effective in females and not males.
Do nerves reattach after surgery?
Nerves heal about one inch per month
. You’ll have follow-up appointments with your surgeon, during which he determines how your nerve regeneration is progressing. Nerve fibers have to grow down the full length of the damaged nerve to where the nerve and muscle intersect. That can take between six months to one year.
Do finger nerves grow back?
Return of feeling from a cut nerve can take as long as a year or more
. One way to know that the nerve is indeed regenerating is by the gradual progression of feeling down the finger. This is usually in the form of tingling and electric-like sensations, which slowly move down the finger.
