About Carpal Tunnel and Nerve Conduction Testings

What are nerve disorders?

Nerve disorders affect one or more of the body's nervous systems and can potentially impact speech, motor skills, cognitive ability, heart function, and even breathing. In addition to the central nervous system, specific nerve disorders can also involve the autonomic nervous system or the peripheral nervous system (such as, peripheral neuropathy). While some nerve disorders are genetically inherited, others can occur over time due to injury or stress.

The following are the most common types of peripheral neuropathy:

• Neuropathy is a disease of the nervous system in which there is a disturbance in the function of a nerve or particular group of nerves. The most common form is peripheral neuropathy, which mainly affects the feet and legs.
• Sciatica is pain, tingling, or numbness produced by an irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a pain in the leg due to irritation of the sciatic nerve.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when tendons in the wrist become inflamed after being aggravated. Tendons can become aggravated when the carpals (a tunnel of bones) and the ligaments in the wrist narrow, pinch nerves that reach the fingers and the muscle at the base of the thumb.
• Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition brought on by increased pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow can develop in several ways. This may occur if you place a consistent amount of pressure on the elbow nerve.
• Radiculopathy is a condition due to a compressed nerve in the spine. Radiculopathy can occur in any part of the spine, but it is most common in the lower back (lumbar radiculopathy) and in the neck (cervical radiculopathy).
• Polyneuropathy is any illness that attacks numerous nerves in the body, sometimes causing weakness and/or pain.
• Diabetic neuropathies are neuropathic disorders that are associated with diabetes mellitus.
• Postherpetic neuralgia is pain that persists after an episode of shingles has resolved, resulting from damaged nerve fibers from shingles.
• Thoracic outlet syndrome is a condition in which the nerves or vessels behind the collar bone (clavicle) become compressed or stretched, causing pain, weakness, or numbness in the arm on the same side.

Symptoms that may occur with nerve disorders

The nervous system controls functions throughout the body. Symptoms of damaged nerves have many different indicators including:

• Burning feeling
• Muscle weakness
• Numbness
• Pain from an origin that does not usually cause pain or that follows the course of a specific nerve
• Paralysis or inability to move a body part
• Pins-and-needles (prickling) sensation
• Sensitivity
• Tingling

Who is most at Risk of developing nerve disorders?

Below are some of the risk factors pertaining to nerve disorders that may prompt you or your doctor to request a nerve conduction test:

• Diabetes
• Nerve compression or entrapment
• Trauma
• Penetrating injuries
• Fracture or dislocated bones
• Tumor
• Intraneural hemorrhage
• Exposure to cold or radiation
• Rarely, certain medicines or toxic substances
• Vascular or collagen disorders such as atherosclerosis, lupus, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

In some cases it can be caused by heredity, vitamin deficiency, infection, and kidney disease.