circulatory problems and peripheral neuropathy
 

Hello

I was wondering if anyone can answer me this:
Does circulatory problems arise because the nerve is compressed /damaged, or because a person doesn't move his limb because it hurts?
Do nerves control the circulatory system?

Thanks

In a word--
 

--yes.

To a great extent, small-fiber autonomic nerves regulate the action of the circulatory system, particularly smaller blood vessels.

This is a sort of "chicken and egg" thing--circulatory problems can be caused or worsened by neuropathy, as the vessels won't get the right signals to move fluids along, and/or circulatory problems can cause neuropathy themselves, as decresed circulation can starve nerves of needed oxygen and nutrients (and keep waste toxins from being eliminated). In fact, many metabolic (i.e., diabetic) and a number of autoimmune (i.e., vascultic) neuropathies are primarily ischemic/circulatory in mechanism. And these can become cyclic--reduced circulation leads to nerve damage leads to more decreased circulation . . .

I do strongly encourage people to move as much as tolerable--the benefits are many, not just circulatory.

Very well said.

CNS and PNS
 

Thanks glentag,

By the way, do you know what is the relationship between the CNS and the PNS? Can a simple nerve compression create stress/hyperactivity to the CNS? Are there any studies on that?

Well--
 

--certainly the central nervous system--brain and spinal cord--receives signals from the peripheral nervous system and interprets them, giving rise to the sensations we "feel".

There are situations in which the central nervous system has trouble interpreting unusual signals from the peripheral nerves, such as those associated with axonal damage--it can interpret this as any one of the many positive (pain, tingling, shooting, heat/cold) or negative (numbness/sensation loss) sensations of neural damage. But the same type of damage may give rise to different sensations in different people.

I was wondering about this too
 

Ever since I have started to have what the doctors I am working with believe is nerve pain in my legs, I have started getting alternating red, burning feet and freezing cold, blue feet. My hands also get red and burn from time to time.

Does this sound characteristic of a circulation issue due to nerve pain in the legs?

Yes, my doctor drew me a picture, and said that because the nerves aren't working, they fail to tighten around the capillaries and push blood through. When this happens, you get edema (swelling) in the area. But it's usually because you have nerve damage first, then the circulation problems follow - in a lot of cases that involve neuropathy, anyway.

Thanks Brue!

Any ideas as to how to improve circulation while having a nerve issue? I cannot move around a lot at the moment due to my leg and foot pain.

I have found that exercising in my pool works best. We're thinking of moving from Florida, and I've been concerned about missing the pool. I've begun to be able to use an elliptical machine. I'm about to start learning tai chi to get better motion.

Anything you can do, including yoga, can help.

I have also gotten relief from the Rebuilder, a kind of TENS device; I don't believe it has done any rebuilding, but it helps the pain, and possibly the circulation.

Thanks for your reply Steven!

I have heard swimming is supposed to be good! Unfortunately, I am at the point where even very little movements are irritating my nerve pain in my hamstring/glute area. I am hoping to work with a neurologist that will be able to guide me in little motions that may not trigger the pain as much!