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Old 09-24-2017, 05:58 AM
glenntaj glenntaj is offline
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glenntaj glenntaj is offline
Magnate
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 2,855
15 yr Member
Default In a word, yes--

--although any nerve in any part of the body can be damaged if the blunt trauma or compressive forces are sufficient.

In general, nerve that are farther from the center of the body--in the periphery, such as feet and hands--are more prone to damage from systemic metabolic or toxic causes, though all nerves can be damaged by such things. This is because the longer the distance from the center of circulation, the more difficult it is for oxygen and nutrients to be transported to these nerves, and the harder it is for metabolic wastes or toxins to be transported out. That is why with things such as diabetic neuropathy the most typical presentation is a "die back"--symptoms occur in the extremities first and if there is progression gradually move towards the center of the body.

Now, having said that, there are specific areas of the body that are particularly prone to crush or compression injuries that are not necessarily at the periphery. These are generally anywhere nerves must pass thorough tightly constricted places and where it is easy for other structures to compress them. Among these are the carpal tunnel area of the wrist, the tarsal tunnel area near the ankle, the lower cervical vertebrae, for which the foraminal openings through which the nerves must pass are generally about a third smaller than those of the upper vertebrae, the lower lumbar vertebrae for a similar reason, the pelvic notch through which the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of the outer thigh passes, the canal through which the pudendal nerve to the genital area passes, and even the ulnar slot by the elbow.

These are just some of the typical areas that many people experience narrow nerve transit symptoms; undoubtedly, with variation in individual anatomy, there are others for particular people.

And, due to the "double crush phenomenon", people with nerve compromise from systemic causes, if they then also experience compression in these or other areas, may have symptoms "greater than the expected some of the parts". In other words, nerves already damaged by something like diabetes may really act up if compressed as well. Spinal stenosis nerve symptoms tend to be more severe in diabetics, for example.
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