gravelbee t1_j46l0e4 wrote
Bodies are so complex... it really depends on the type of damage and the location. For example, mild nerve damage - let's say from extreme cold exposure in the fingertips - will cause sensations of pain or discomfort only in the affected area of the nerves involved. On the other hand, a very common example of nerve damage is sciatic pain. The actual site of inflammation is in the lower back/hip area but people will get pain that extends all the way down their leg.
FineRevolution9264 t1_j46poax wrote
Vert true. But why does the pain radiate like that? The nerve is clearly not damaged in the calf for example.
_AlreadyTaken_ t1_j46ugpm wrote
This may help:
>When you stub your toe, slam your finger in a door or smack your head, irritation and damage to your tissue triggers the surrounding nerves to coordinate nociceptive pain. These nerves inform your brain you're in pain — cue those sharp or throbbing sensations. Moral of the story: Stop doing the thing you're doing, it's causing damage.
>Nerve pain is a bit different. The pain is still coordinated by a nerve, but the irritation or damage is occurring directly to the nerve itself. In addition, the pain feels different — more electric, burning or stinging.
>In the case of hitting your funny bone, squashing your ulnar nerve into your medial epicondyle bone is irritating. And you feel this nerve pain in the areas where your ulnar nerve provides sensation, resulting in an unpleasant, shocking sensation shooting down your forearm and into your fingers.
So one is from nerve fiber sensory organs at the nerve endings. The other is affecting the nerve directly so it registers it along the entire region the nerve covers.
[deleted] t1_j46pzjx wrote
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