The entire human nervous system is conditionally divided into two parts: the central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS). PNS is a section of the nervous system located outside the spinal cord or brain. It is represented by a collection of nerve fibers and endings that work as a transmitter of information from the NSC to the organs.
PNS device
PNS is a huge number of "sensors" that conduct electrical signals through neural cables - through them the pulses reach the central nervous system. They all consist of nerve cells, processes that form in separate nerves, connecting into bundles and large nerve fibers that lead to the brain - dorsal or head.
The central peripheral nerves that lead to the brain have 12 pairs, called the cranial. They all join the "bridge", which is located in the center of the NA structure.
There are spinal nerves, which are much larger:
- 1 fused pair, which leads to the tailbone;
- 5 pairs - to the sacrum;
- 5 pairs are located in the lumbar region;
- 12 - in the chest;
- 8 - in the cervical region.
The peripheral nerves themselves consist of vegetative and somatic nerves, the latter being considered to be the conductors of signals from receptors to the central nervous system, from the central nervous system to the muscles, but the autonomic ones, which are responsible for the unconscious state of the body, are divided into:
- Sympathetic - are responsible for activating the work of tissues and organs.
- Parasympathetic. Calm their work.
- Meta sympathetic. This subsystem is relatively free from the work of the central nervous system, since it is represented by separate complexes of nerve cells that do not affect it and are not dependent on it. Responsible for the contractile activity of the organs: lungs, bladder.
The functions of the PNS are very diverse and no less important than those of the central nervous system, since these nerves are responsible for receptor sensitivity (internal and tactile sensation), control the signals received from the central nervous system, control the operation of some organs.
What will the malfunction of PNS lead to?
Any diseases of the PNS can cause a malfunction of its functions: sensitivity and physical activity are lost.
Moreover, violations of sensitivity in such diseases do not always lead to a complete or partial loss of function, in most cases, on the contrary, irritation and sensitivity increase, such reactions as the appearance of "goosebumps" and strange pain syndrome are observed.
When disorders in the vestibular nerve, a person may feel nauseous, feel severe dizziness.
Since the PNS consists of a large number of nerves, which in their structure resemble branches of a tree, the size of the disturbances largely depends on what kind of nerve in the hierarchy was affected.
For example, if the pathology touched only a small nerve, which is responsible, for example, for flexing a finger, then this function will be lost. But if the femoral or sciatic nerve, which is responsible for the work of the entire leg, is affected, this may cause the loss of the efficiency of the entire limb.
Peripheral nervous system diseases
All pathologies of PNS are divided into the following subspecies:
- Neuritis, which are inflammation, resulting in the integrity of nerve cells.
- Neuralgia - inflammation of peripheral nerves or their individual elements. Diseases do not lead to cell death.
Distinctive features of diseases of this nature is that neuralgia can, if untreated, turn into neuritis. Treatment of neuralgia is quite simple and in most cases can be carried out with the help of physiotherapy or using traditional methods, especially if we are talking about the initial stages of the disease. But neuritis is a serious lesion of peripheral endings - in the absence of proper treatment, it can lead to a complete loss of nerve functionality.
Neuritis and neuralgia are very similar in their symptoms, but appear in different parts of the body depending on which nerve was affected. To determine the pathology, you need to conduct a thorough examination.
Since there are more than a million nerve fibers in the human body, they can be listed for a very long time, and the pathologies of small nerves can pass unnoticed even for a sick person. Most often, speaking of these two pathologies, diseases of the large nerves are meant - their symptoms are impossible not to notice, and with serious failures, vital functions can be lost.
Further pathologies are classified according to the etiology of the lesion:
- allergic diseases;
- infectious;
- toxic;
- traumatic;
- hereditary.
Also emit:
- Dyscirculatory. They are caused by impaired blood circulation, with the result that nerve cells or tissues are poorly supplied with blood.
- Dysmetabolic, which are caused by disruptions in metabolism, which can cause the death of nerve cells.
Topographic classification is as follows:
- multineuritis, representing the neuritis of a large number of nerves;
- mononeuritis, in which only one nerve is damaged;
- polyneuritis - pathology concerns several nerves;
- plexitis is an inflammatory process that affects the nerve plexus;
- funiculitis, in which the spinal nerve roots are inflamed.
Main reasons
The reasons that can cause damage to peripheral nerves include any negative effect on the body that is strong enough to lead to the over-stimulation of neurons, their death, inflammation.
The following pathologies may occur:
- Infectious inflammation that may be caused by a microorganism.
- Infectious-allergic lesions that occur when the allergen enters the body, and the pathology is aggravated by the development of infection.
- Inflammations caused by thermal exposure (for example, severe hypothermia).
- Toxic inflammations that are caused by the death of neurons in case of poisoning by harmful substances, infectious microorganisms, prolonged use of alcohol.
- Traumatic, for example, with a bruise of a nerve, any other injury. Most often this causes neuritis.
- The hereditary causes of such pathologies constitute a whole branch of medicine, but with neuritis they are most often represented by a violation of the structure of the nerve itself, and with neuralgia, lesions of the surrounding tissue.
How is the diagnosis
Before starting the treatment of any disease, it is necessary to determine its cause. If we talk about neuritis and neuralgia, the final diagnosis can be made after examination by a neurologist. They can also schedule reflex tests.
And to identify the cause and extent of the disease can not do without a thorough examination:
- General tests that will help identify the inflammatory process and the possible causative agent of the disease.
- General blood analysis.
- Ultrasound, tomography, etc., which will identify the physical cause that could cause pathology.
Treatment of diseases
Therapy begins with determining the cause and its subsequent elimination, for which use a variety of techniques: from the use of anti-inflammatory drugs to surgery, which is used to eliminate the pinching of the nerve.
In addition to the main methods of treatment, the treatment of these diseases requires symptomatic treatment: anesthetics, drugs to improve the nerves, drugs aimed at improving blood circulation.
You can also use folk remedies - this method is considered the most harmless and at the same time quite effective, although any non-traditional methods of treatment should be agreed with your doctor.
Massages and physical education help against neuritis and neuralgia, as they relieve swelling, pinching, improve blood circulation, which speeds up recovery in both the inflammatory process and dyscirculatory disorders.
Drug therapy
When these pathologies prescribe the following drugs:
- Painkillers: Ortofen, Diclofenac, Pentalgin.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Ibuprofen, Ketorolac.
- Ointments and gels: Viprosal, Myoton.
- Injections: Spazgan, Trigan.
Folk methods
The following traditional methods may help in the fight against PNS diseases:
- Tincture of pine needles, spruce cones, dandelions. You need to take 200 g of one of the ingredients, pour 500 ml of vodka and leave to infuse for at least several days. Tincture is used for grinding.
- Compresses can be made using warm beeswax: the tool is softened on a steam bath and the resulting cake is applied to the damaged area. Leave her overnight.
Massages and physical education help against neuritis and neuralgia, as they relieve from edema, pinching, improve blood circulation, which has a positive effect both in the inflammatory process and in dyscirculatory disorders.
Recovery of the peripheral nervous system
After a certain age, the nerve cells cease to divide, because the restoration of their physical structure is possible only with the use of stem cells.
Restoration of the central nervous system and PNS usually occurs due to the redistribution of functions between the remaining cells and their new processes, which can even restore the lost sensitivity.
To stimulate regenerative functions, it is necessary to influence the body through massage, gymnastics, and reflex therapy methods.
Implications and predictions
With timely treatment, diseases of the peripheral nervous system are treated quite successfully. But the treatment of polyneuritis may cause difficulties, since the causes of this pathology are quite serious.
The most serious complications of such diseases are the loss of nerve, its functions, which as a result may cause a loss of sensitivity, activity, ability to manage the area of "responsibility" of the nerve. However, this is possible only in the absence of therapy or with too heavy lesions.
