[쉬운 신경질환사전]is a series of articles designed by neurologist Hanseung Lee (Herb Neurology Clinic) and Hidak on the topic of neurological diseases in everyday life. Common but vague symptoms such as ‘eyelid tremor’, ‘dizziness’, ‘numbness of hands and feet’, and ‘various headaches’ are explained in an easy-to-understand manner for the general public.
There are various causes of neurological diseases such as numbness in the hands and feet, but if we were to pick one of the most representative causes, it would be a peripheral nerve abnormality. So today, I would like to explain about diseases caused by peripheral nerve abnormalities.
nervous system structure
The nervous system is functionally divided into the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and autonomic nervous system. However, since peripheral nerves and autonomic nerves are in harmony, structurally, it is common to divide them into central nerves and peripheral nerves.
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord we know well. To put it simply, it is easy to understand if you think that it is responsible for all the functions of the computer body. Peripheral nerves act as cables connecting the computer to various devices such as monitors. Since the peripheral nerve is a living tissue, it receives necessary substances such as energy sources through blood, metabolizes itself, and maintains cell functions. Even if it is damaged, it protects itself and even repairs the damaged part.
The structure of a peripheral nerve is similar to that of a cable. Like a copper wire in the center of a cable, bundles of axons, which are nerve cell stems, are in the center, and what are called Schwann cells rolls around the axon to form a living sheath. These peripheral nerves also serve as auxiliary CPUs, and in the case of sensory nerves, one of the peripheral nerves, it is responsible for determining the level of stimulus intensity to respond to when an external stimulus is applied.
Types of peripheral nerve abnormalities
Peripheral nerve abnormalities can be broadly divided into functional abnormalities and structural abnormalities. However, because structural abnormalities are always accompanied by functional abnormalities due to the characteristics of the human body, abnormal functions may also cause structural abnormalities. Therefore, when talking about peripheral nerve abnormalities from the point of view of diseases, it is not necessary to distinguish between abnormalities in structure and function.
Diseases caused by peripheral nerve abnormalities
Typical diseases that can occur due to peripheral nerve abnormalities include Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and Gian-Barré syndrome. These are diseases of great interest to researchers because they are unique diseases that destroy the entire peripheral nerve. Because these diseases are rare diseases, it is very difficult to see them around us. In fact, the peripheral neuropathy most commonly seen around us are as follows.
First, pressure neuropathy
Neuropathy (disc) due to herniation of the intervertebral disc
carpal tunnel syndrome
Various ulnar nerve disorders
Numbness on the inside of the big toe due to wearing the wrong shoes
In the case of pressure neuropathy, if the pressure on the nerve is released at the beginning, it will improve quickly. However, delayed treatment can lead to permanent dysfunction.
Second, nerve destruction by inflammation
Bellmavi (Guanwasa)
herpes zoster
These two diseases are caused by the fact that the specific virus that entered the human body is not completely removed, but is lurking in the nerve nucleus and is suddenly activated and destroys the corresponding nerve when immunity is low. Peripheral nerves have the characteristic of self-destructing when damaged over a certain period. Therefore, early treatment can guarantee a good prognosis. In addition, polymononeuropathy accompanying rheumatic diseases is not uncommonly observed.
Third, diseases caused by metabolic abnormalities of nerves
Most are diabetic neuropathy. When you have diabetes, the sugar in your blood doesn’t get into your cells well. The nervous system is the tissue that suffers the most from these characteristics of diabetes.
The nervous system of our body is a very long tissue, and the nerve cells that make up the sciatic nerve that go to the end of the leg alone reach about 1.2m in length. For these long nerve cells to survive, various nutrients and substances necessary for cell survival must be smoothly supplied from the proximal part of the nerve cell to the end.
However, if sugar is not supplied properly due to diabetes, abnormalities occur in the function of cells, and the microscopic intracellular structures from the ends are not restored and are gradually destroyed. Fortunately, diabetic neuropathy can be restored to function by strict blood sugar control from the beginning.
Help = Hidak Consulting Doctor Hanseung Lee (Neurologist at Herb Neurology Clinic)