Previously, we discussed how herniated disks can resorb all by themselves, especially large herniated disks. But what about a damaged nerve—can it self-repair too?
It’s important to realize that damage can occur when enough pressure applies to any living tissue. The anatomy of our nerves includes many micro-structures such as the blood vessels. Blood vessels bring needed oxygen to several layers of the nerve. If the nerve lacks oxygen long enough, there can be damage to its infrastructure. Damage is similar to a heart attack damaging the heart muscle.
A pinched nerve results in symptoms that include numbness, tingling, weakness, and in some cases, burning sensations. There are three stages of nerve damage, mild, moderate, and severe. The ability of nerve regeneration depends on the amount of damage and the length of time before treatment.
Peripheral Nerve System
The nerves that make up the peripheral nervous system have the ability to regenerate. Those within the central nervous system (CNS) generally do not. However, there is hope. Researchers have begun to identify the molecular mechanisms that can promote axon regeneration in CNS injuries. Much of the knowledge and insight derived from these studies comes from the experimental use of fruit flies. You can refer to it as “Drosophila models of axonal regrowth.”
The activation of an important receptor (called “insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor or IGF-1R) appears to be an essential step for axonal regeneration to occur in adult CNS neurons. Studies utilizing Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) as a form of treatment in animal models after a brain injury found IGF-1 to be “neuroprotective” in the early stages of brain injury. Blood levels can elevate soon after an injury.
In a study of 45 patients who suffered traumatic spinal cord injuries, researchers detected higher levels of IGF-1 blood serum levels in those who had clinically documented neurological resolution as compared to lower levels that were found in those who did not have neurological remission.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, researchers need to identify some of the missing pieces of the CNS-injury recovery puzzle before a consistent and predictable outcome can be expected for people who have sustained a serious spinal cord injury.
Chiropractors are trained to identify injuries to peripheral nerves as well as to the spinal cord and they can also work closely with other experts who manage the more significant neurological injuries, all in the quest of getting you back on the road to as much recovery as possible!
