Nerve damage can lead to a wide range of conditions including loss or impaired range of motion, tingling, numbness, and pain. Symptoms may vary depending on the kind of nerve that is affected. Some of the western conventional treatments for nerve damage include electrical stimulation techniques, medications (oral or nerve blocks), surgery and physical therapy. All these modalities involve the patient working with a neurologist. The prognosis for nerve damage recuperation is the same with stroke, which is the sooner the treatment starts, the more effective the treatment will be.

Traditional Chinese medicine categorizes nerve damage based on its primary symptoms. They may include:

Phlegm – for damage caused by growths and numbness

Cold – nerve damage that seasonally worsens. Comes with sinew and muscle contraction and throbbing, sharp pain

Damp – nerve damage causing quick fatigue, swelling, severe or dull achy pain and tingling

Wind – nerve damage accompanied by stiffness or uncontrolled movement, spasm and muscle twitching

Nerve damage therapies may differ just about as much as the symptoms and oftentimes involves other modalities other than mere traditional acupuncture therapy. Electro-acupuncture, for example, is a modern form of acupuncture effective for addressing extremely stubborn pain, sensation issues, and impaired range of motion. This treatment also helps to generate the formation of new nerves and can be helpful in treating chronic neuropathy or neuralgia affecting any peripheral nerve. One other form of traditional Chinese medicine treatment used to treat neural damage is moxibustion. This therapy uses moxa leaves that are burned to help clear fluid congestion and inflammatory cycles that blocks or slows down nerve activity. It is often used to stop tingling, fatigue and muscle spasm. One other treatment for nerve damage is plum blossom needle. This treatment uses a small hammer with blunt metal ends to enhance new nerve development and relieve pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia and other febrile-related conditions and to relieve pain caused by inflammation.

It can be a challenging experience dealing with nervous system disorders and nerve damage. Problems such as these may take a long time to resolve if they have been left untreated for several years. One of the best ways of treating these conditions is to combine the treatments of both Western medicine and Chinese medicine. This will help bring about immediate and complete recovery for people suffering from nerve damage.

Danielle DeVivo is a board certified and licensed acupuncturist in Saratoga Springs, NY.