Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS helps to relay sensory information to the brain and spinal cord. The brain, in turn, will send communication back to the PNS in order to perform specific motor functions. Damage to any part of the PNS can result in a variety of symptoms, which can include tingling, prickliness, numbness, muscle wasting, and even paralysis. Peripheral neuropathies are known to have about 100 different types and are classified by which nerves they impact: sensory, motor, or autonomic. There are several causes for nerve injury, and some of these include physical trauma, autoimmune diseases, tumors, toxins, and metabolic disorders. Out of these, physical injury is the most common, and can occur as a result of accidents or falls. Nerve damage can have several outcomes, including completely severed, crushed, stretched, and even fully detached from the spinal cord. Once a nerve injury has occurred, there are several ways to diagnose the extent of damage. These can include a CT scan, MRI, Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV), nerve biopsy, and a skin biopsy. Treatments are continuing to grow as more research becomes available, but there is optimism when it comes to stem cells and nerve regeneration.
There are several methods being used in nerve regeneration, but the journal article “ Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Stimulate Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves: BDNF Secreted by These Cells Promotes Nerve Healing and Axon Growth De Novo” focuses on stem cells. Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ASCs), have shown beneficial effects on peripheral nerve repair. Although it would seem logical to harvest Schwann cells for this purpose, the process is very traumatic, and ASCs are much...
... middle of paper ...
... promotes nerve healing and axon growth de novo. PlosOne, 6(3). Retrieved November 20, 2011, from http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0017899
Miller, B. (n.d.). Nerve injuries in military personnel focus of web site. Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/12076.aspx
Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). (n.d.). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Retrieved November 20, 2011, from http://ninds.nih.gov/disorders/peripheralneuropathy/detail_peripheralneuropathy.htm#183583208
Sulaiman, W. A., & Kline, D. G. (2006). Nerve surgery: A review and insights about its future. Clinical neurosurgery, 53, 38-47. Retrieved November 20, 2011, from www.cns.org/publications/clinical/53/pdf/cnb00106000038.pdf
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is generally thought to be an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheaths, or oligodendrocytes that cover nerve axons in the central nervous system (PubMed Health 2013). This immune response causes inflammation, which triggers immune cells to destroy axons “along any area of the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord” (PubMed Health 2013). When the myelin sheath “is damaged, nerve signals slow down or stop” thus hindering the propagation of action potentials and limiting function (PubMed Health 2013).
Friedman, Mathew J., MD, PhD. "PTSD History and Overview." PTSD: National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 31 Jan. 2007. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
Stem cells are a type of unspecialized cells that can revive themselves through the process of cell division (Abdel-Salam and Oma, 2011). They have a phenomenal potential to differentiate into other specific cell types in a living organism. These cells can also be activated to turn into organ-specific cells or tissues with defined activity but only under specific experimental set-up. Stem cells have the ability to remain as they are or divide further to renew deteriorated and damaged tissue cells. Recently it has been discovered that stem cells can be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, but still a lot of clinical trials are being conducted to find a specific government approved treatment.
... damaged neurons. (Mayo clinic, 2014). This is called neuroplasticity, the ability for the nerves to compensate for damage caused by some outside force. Because of neuroplasticity physical training works to cure some of the paralysis left by the virus and allows us to walk again after the legs or another appendage is deformed or damaged.
Jones, Edgar, Nicola T. Fear, and Simon Wessely. "Shell Shock and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Historical Review." The American Journal of Psychiatry 164.11 (2007): 1641-5. http://0-search.proquest.com.library.francis.edu/docview/220510935/fulltextPDF/134DFDDE4904573C8F8/1?accountid=4216 (accessed January 23, 2012).
In closing, the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system is vital for basic bodily functioning and processes. Injury, disease or abnormal structure of the brain will greatly affect one's behaviour, emotional regulation, mental processes and functioning. The brain will respond to any trauma, injury or abnormality to accommodate the dysfunction. During this response, the brain will physically change, the process called neuroplasticity, and attempt to "rewire" the brain to return to normal functioning. In the treatment of many cases as previously discussed, the aim was to reconnect neurons and the theory of neuroplasticity was the foundation behind it.
The wide range of prospective uses for stem cells could greatly improve the health and wellbeing of many people. In stem cell treatments, undifferentiated cells are programmed to form specific cells, which can then be transplanted to the afflicted area. Stems cells can possibly treat afflictions including “Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis” (“Stem Cell Basics”). Another important use is in drug testing. Drugs can be tested on stem cells that develop into the target tissue before using it on human test subjects, which improves safety. Finally, transplantation of organs created from stem cells could eliminate the need for human...
Peripheral and central mechanisms involving nerve lesions and their input are substantial when perceiving phantom pain. Due to the impairment of peripheral nerves in the process of amputation, regenerative sprouting of damaged axons occurs and the activity rate of inflamed C-fibres and demyelinated A-fibres spontaneously increases (Flor, 2002). As a consequence of this nerve injury, a neuroma, which is a mass of pruned and tangled axons, may form in the residual limb producing abnormal (ectopic) activity (Katz, 1992). Flor, Nikolajsen and Jenson (2006) proposed that ectopic discharge from a neuroma in the stump illustrates abnormal afferent input to the spinal cord, which is a possible mechanism for unpro...
Dyck, P., Feldman, E., & Vinick, A. 2013 - November 26. Diabetic Neuropathy: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes. Retrieved from http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/#types. NINDS (2008, September 16). NINDS Diabetic Neuropathy Information Page.
With motor neurone disease it attacks the nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting. In the case study the
The sciatic nerve supplies information about movements of the leg and sends information about sensations back to the brain. The sciatic nerve is quite large, in fact, it is the largest peripheral nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve is formed from the lower segments of the spinal cord; it is made up of the lumbar and sacral nerve roots from the spine. The nerves are compressed, and people then experience the symptoms of pain, weakness, and numbness.
Wunderlich, R. P., Peters, E. J., Bosma, J., & Armstrong, D. G. (1998). Pathophysiology and treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremity. Southern Medical Journal, 91, 894-898.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an acquired demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that typically is diagnosed in the second or third decade of life. Normally, nerves are enclosed in myelin sheaths that help facilitate transmission of nerve impulses within the CNS and the peripheral nervous system throughout the body. In patients with MS, the myelin sheath is damaged and eventually degenerates, causing patches of scar tissue called plaques or lesions to occur anywhere randomly on the myelin sheath (Ruto, 2013). This results in impaired nerve conductivity, which interferes with message transmission between the brain and the other parts of the body. As a result, impulse transmission is altered, distorted, short-circuited, or completely absent. This interference in impulse transmission creates muscle weakness, muscle imbalance, and possibly muscle spasms with partial or complete paralysis. Multiple sclerosis also can result in visual impairment and alteration of cognitive abilities, as well as pain, numbness, or tingling sensations (Ruto, 2013).
The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain and the spinal cord serves as the collection section of the nerve impulses. With damage to the peripheral nervous system the central nervous wouldn’t be able to interpret the stimuli’s because they wouldn’t be able to receive them. This system is considered to be ...