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What is a Nerve Lesion?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A nerve lesion is an injury which affects one of the nerves in the body. These lesions can be caused by a wide variety of situations and medical conditions, and they can cause an assortment of symptoms. Treatment for the lesions depends on locating the lesion and determining its cause, and it may not always be possible for a doctor to deliver a good prognosis for a patient with nerve lesions.

In a complete nerve lesion, the nerve is so damaged that signals cannot pass across it. This damage may be permanent in nature. Partial lesions involve partial damage to the nerve which causes an interruption in the nerve's function. Partial lesions are more likely to have a positive outcome, because it is possible for the body to adapt to the physical change.

Multiple sclerosis is marked by the degredation of nerve cells' myelin sheath.
Multiple sclerosis is marked by the degredation of nerve cells' myelin sheath.

Some causes include: degenerative diseases of the nervous system, tumors, burns, cuts, and abrasive injuries such as those caused by bones which grate against nerves. In all cases, part of the nerve is damaged, and the myelin, the thick sheath which covers the nerve, may be partially removed. Demyelinated nerves are usually more difficult to treat, especially when the layer is stripped away by a disease, as is the case with multiple sclerosis.

The myelin sheath is a layer of fatty tissue that protects the nerves and makes impulses travel efficiently.
The myelin sheath is a layer of fatty tissue that protects the nerves and makes impulses travel efficiently.

Lesions can cause an assortment of symptoms, depending on where the lesion is located. Patients may experience loss of muscle control, numb or tingling sensations, sharp pains, or twitching. Because the nerves of the body are well known and they have been carefully mapped, a doctor can usually determine where the damage is by narrowing down the site of the symptoms.

Severe burns may cause a number of nerve lesions throughout the affected area.
Severe burns may cause a number of nerve lesions throughout the affected area.

Neurologists usually treat patients with suspected nerve lesions. They conduct a neurological exam to narrow down the symptoms and determine where the signals from the nerves are being scrambled, and they can recommend a course of treatment for the patient after determining the cause of the lesion and discussing the patient's history.

In some instances, it may be possible to repair a nerve lesion with surgery. Other lesions may resolve themselves, or the body may adapt and allow other nerves to take over to replace the function of the damaged nerves. In other cases, it may be necessary to treat a patient with medications, physical therapy, and other measures to address the lesion. Permanent lesions cannot be repaired, but patients can be taught to manage with the decreased function, and in the case of patients with degenerative diseases, they can learn coping skills which will help them adjust as the damage spreads.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon132855

i want to know about UMNL?

musicshaman

I recently found out that I have a cranial nerve 3 lesion, so I've been reading up on all kinds of nerve problems. I read about vagus nerve lesions the other day -- talk about weird.

People with vagus nerve lesions tend to get a hoarse voice, and they have problems swallowing, eventually even choking on liquids. They also lose their gag reflex, and their uvula goes all weird.

What I thought was really interesting though, was that vagus nerve lesions are associated with porphyria, the kind of crazy that King George had. Since porphyria has enough crazy symptoms on its own -- burning skin, hair on the forehead, to name a few -- I can't imagine having that in conjunction with vagus nerve lesions.

That must be so miserable.

pharmchick78

Perhaps one of the saddest kind of nerve lesions are upper motor nerve lesions.

The upper motor neurons are involved in controlling many basic movements, from lifting your arm to crossing your legs.

However, in the case of upper motor nerve lesions, patients gradually lose control of their movements.

Common symptoms include muscle weakness, spasticity, decreased control of movement (especially slow, gradual movements), and a more dramatic show of reflexes. Some people also experience problems in moving their eyes.

All in all, it's a sad condition, because unlike with pinched nerves, recovery from upper motor nerve lesions is much more difficult.

EarlyForest

Are the symptoms of nerve lesions kind of the same as pinched nerve symptoms?

I have been experiencing nerve pain in my hand, and I was wondering if it could be a lesion on my median nerve.

I know that I don't have carpal tunnel syndrome, and I think that I'm too young to have any degenerative diseases.

Could there be a lesion on my hand nerves?

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    • Multiple sclerosis is marked by the degredation of nerve cells' myelin sheath.
      By: joshya
      Multiple sclerosis is marked by the degredation of nerve cells' myelin sheath.
    • The myelin sheath is a layer of fatty tissue that protects the nerves and makes impulses travel efficiently.
      By: joshya
      The myelin sheath is a layer of fatty tissue that protects the nerves and makes impulses travel efficiently.
    • Severe burns may cause a number of nerve lesions throughout the affected area.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Severe burns may cause a number of nerve lesions throughout the affected area.
    • Doctors can't always deliver a positive prognosis for patients with a nerve lesion.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Doctors can't always deliver a positive prognosis for patients with a nerve lesion.
    • In a complete nerve lesion, the nerve is so damaged that signals cannot pass across it.
      By: 7activestudio
      In a complete nerve lesion, the nerve is so damaged that signals cannot pass across it.