[apbart]

Hello,

I read in one of the and it was stated that nerves can repair or that neuropathy can get better.

Well, I have just had a 2 level Anterior Cervical Foraminotomy to take the pressure off of my Peripheral Nerves from c5-c7, which was causing arm pain and numbness, left side index finger and thumb, also muscle weakness. I have been told that it takes along time for the nerves to heal, depending on how long the nerves were compressed and how much damage there is to the nerve itself. I have not had a emg study to determine that level of damage, I do not know if an emg would tell me that information or not. My nerves were compressed for about 18 months before I had surgery on Dec 2, 2008. It has been to months and I have not had any improvement in my symptoms. But I am hopeful and so is my Doc. The compression of the nerves was very evident on my MRI and CAT scan, therefore the surgery was necessary. Now that the pressure is off of the nerves I would like to do what every I could to help the nerves to heal.

Could you tell me what supplements I could take to help with this recovery of nerve damage?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you ............Apbart

[mrsD]

1) Compression along the axons, may affect the insulation called myelin there. Myelin is repaired by the body using B12, B6, Folate, glycine (from root veggies) and by Omega-3 fatty acids.
So some flax oil, and fish oil often speed repair.

2) a second type of damage is to the nerve cell body. Typically attacks on the mitochondria, the energy cells within the cell body become damaged. The cell may die, or just function below normal. A dead cell cannot come back. (I am unsure if new cells are made--since the peripheral nervous system is supposed to "regenerate".) Nerve damage of this type is mostly nutrient that support the mitochondria. Acetyl carnitine, CoQ-10, Vit C, r-lipoic acid are examples of this type.

3) chemical attack of the cells by the polyol pathway, excess blood sugar (also very low blood sugar), often damage the dendrites. This leads to more numbness rather than pain. There can be upset sensory effects at this level, because the dendrites are sending wonky messages to the brain. Control of insulin resistance and blood sugar can help this type. Also the B12, B6 and folate work at this level too.

People can have mixtures of these of course. And autoimmune issues may attack the nerve cells randomly.

So if yours is mostly compression, I'd start with #1.
You can approach this from all the prongs, if you have the financial resources to do it. Not everyone is the same genetically and until we have more accurate biochemical ways to ID people, we can only have a general impression of how to do things.

[Belgrave12]

Originally Posted by mrsD

1) Compression along the axons, may affect the insulation called myelin there. Myelin is repaired by the body using B12, B6, Folate, glycine (from root veggies) and by Omega-3 fatty acids.
So some flax oil, and fish oil often speed repair.

2) a second type of damage is to the nerve cell body. Typically attacks on the mitochondria, the energy cells within the cell body become damaged. The cell may die, or just function below normal. A dead cell cannot come back. (I am unsure if new cells are made--since the peripheral nervous system is supposed to "regenerate".) Nerve damage of this type is mostly nutrient that support the mitochondria. Acetyl carnitine, CoQ-10, Vit C, r-lipoic acid are examples of this type.

3) chemical attack of the cells by the polyol pathway, excess blood sugar (also very low blood sugar), often damage the dendrites. This leads to more numbness rather than pain. There can be upset sensory effects at this level, because the dendrites are sending wonky messages to the brain. Control of insulin resistance and blood sugar can help this type. Also the B12, B6 and folate work at this level too.

People can have mixtures of these of course. And autoimmune issues may attack the nerve cells randomly.

So if yours is mostly compression, I'd start with #1.
You can approach this from all the prongs, if you have the financial resources to do it. Not everyone is the same genetically and until we have more accurate biochemical ways to ID people, we can only have a general impression of how to do things.

Hi all, I googled nerve damage and how to treat and ended up here. I have a four year old boy who snuck into the back of a shop when i was chatting to someone and tried to cut himself a slice of bread but ended up cutting his finger tip. He currently has some steri stitches and a waterproof dressing. Would like to do all I can to help it heal. Was going to buy a good multi-vitamin and some vit C but if there is another supplement I can get him to help heal any nerve damage I would be grateful for any advice on it. I feel so upset for him and don't want him to be in longterm discomfort

[Belgrave12]

Originally Posted by Belgrave12

Hi all, I googled nerve damage and how to treat and ended up here. I have a four year old boy who snuck into the back of a shop when i was chatting to someone and tried to cut himself a slice of bread but ended up cutting his finger tip. He currently has some steri stitches and a waterproof dressing. Would like to do all I can to help it heal. Was going to buy a good multi-vitamin and some vit C but if there is another supplement I can get him to help heal any nerve damage I would be grateful for any advice on it. I feel so upset for him and don't want him to be in longterm discomfort

Sorry for hijacking this thread I thought I was posting a separate post

[mrsD]

Small children heal very quickly.

A good multivitamin for children will have zinc in it which helps with healing.

Protein in the diet for tissue repair. Vit C cannot hurt, and good fats like fish and flax will help too.