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What Are the Different Nerve Inflammation Symptoms?

Autumn Rivers
By
Updated May 17, 2024
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Some people suffer from inflamed nerves in various parts of their body, and it can greatly affect their ability to walk, talk or even breathe. This is because the joints and muscles can become painful and numb, especially in the legs and arms. The result is that both gross motor skills and fine motor skills are reduced until the inflammation is treated. Swallowing and breathing also can be challenging activities when it's hard to feel the muscles and joints involved in these actions, so nerve inflammation can be fatal. It also affects the bowels and bladder, and can result in a general feeling of pain and fatigue throughout the body.

One of the most common nerve inflammation symptoms is difficulty walking, because it may be hard to correctly use the arms and legs. This may be because the muscles in the body, especially the legs, often feel numb when nerves are inflamed. When any kind of sensation actually is present in the area, it often is a burning or generally painful feeling. The muscles also may randomly contract and can even start to atrophy when they are not used much for a long period of time. The joints also often hurt and, when all of these symptoms are combined, many sufferers have too little coordination to walk normally.

The joints and muscles in the legs are not the only body parts that may become numb; the hands and arms also are often affected, which can make it difficult for patients to hold items or complete fine motor skills. Some people experiencing nerve inflammation symptoms also may notice that, along with their face feeling numb, they cannot swallow normally because of the inflammation. They also may have trouble breathing, which means that some types of inflammation can be fatal when left untreated. Common nerve inflammation symptoms also can extend to the voice, because speech may be impaired for some people suffering from inflamed nerves.

Other nerve inflammation symptoms include general fatigue, as well as pain throughout the body. Some people also notice issues involving urination, which often can be related to the low blood pressure that may be caused by inflamed nerves. The bowels often are just as negatively affected as the bladder, because the inflammation leads some patients to experience pain when using the restroom. General discomfort and even paralysis also can spread through the body when nerves are inflamed.

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Autumn Rivers
By Autumn Rivers
Autumn Rivers, a talented writer for WiseGEEK, holds a B.A. in Journalism from Arizona State University. Her background in journalism helps her create well-researched and engaging content, providing readers with valuable insights and information on a variety of subjects.

Discussion Comments

By anon998668 — On Jul 30, 2017

Today is the fifth day since my operation to remove a 5cm tumor (benign) from my head. I am slowly recovering. What is discussed in this article I experienced with slow onset, numbness, difficulty with my right foot, leg.

A head scan revealed the culprit. My luck held. Good luck out there.

By bluedolphin — On Mar 30, 2013

@donasmrs-- It might be but you can't know for sure without a diagnosis.

Did you suffer an injury to your face? I think that's the only way the nerves would be inflamed, if there was an injury. It would cause symptoms like tenderness, numbness and pain. Unless, of course, you have an autoimmune disorder which causes inflammation.

By donasmrs — On Mar 30, 2013

I don't have numbness but the right side of my face is very tender. It hurts when I touch it gently with my fingertips. It's been like this for several days.

What could this be? Does it sound like nerve inflammation?

By burcidi — On Mar 29, 2013

When I do strenuous exercise, the nerves in my lower back get inflamed because I have a herniated disc there.

I always know when I've pushed myself too far because I start getting pins and needles followed by numbness in that area. Numbness really scares me, more so than pain because I know that there is always a risk of paralysis with hernias.

When I have numbness in my lower back and in my leg, I worry that I damaged the nerves there. Thankfully, so far, it has turned out to be just nerve inflammation.

Autumn Rivers

Autumn Rivers

Autumn Rivers, a talented writer for WiseGEEK, holds a B.A. in Journalism from Arizona State University. Her background in journalism helps her create well-researched and engaging content, providing readers with valuable insights and information on a variety of subjects.
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