What are the symptoms of neuropraxia (nerve injury)?

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Last updated: May 8, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Neuropraxia symptoms include temporary loss of motor and sensory function, often presenting as weakness, numbness, tingling, and sometimes burning pain. While the provided study 1 focuses on neuropathy in the context of breast cancer treatment, its description of neuropathy symptoms can be applied to neuropraxia, as both conditions involve nerve dysfunction. According to the study 1, neuropathy can include symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, or a pins-and-needles feeling, which are also characteristic of neuropraxia. Key symptoms of neuropraxia may include:

  • Temporary loss of motor function
  • Reduced muscle strength
  • Impaired reflexes
  • Decreased sensation in the affected area
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Burning pain It's essential to note that neuropraxia is a temporary condition, and recovery usually occurs spontaneously within days to months as the nerve's conduction properties are restored, without the need for severe interventions, as supported by the general understanding of the condition, although not directly stated in the provided study 1.

From the Research

Symptoms of Neuropraxia

The symptoms of neuropraxia include:

  • Sensory changes such as burning pain, numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation 2, 3
  • Motor changes consisting of weakness or complete paralysis 2, 3
  • Burning paresthesia, which is a sensation of burning pain 3
  • Transient episodes of quadriplegia, which can last from ten to fifteen minutes to thirty-six to forty-eight hours 3

Characteristics of Neuropraxia

Neuropraxia is characterized by:

  • Transient and reversible episodes of neurological dysfunction 3
  • Complete recovery of motor function and full, pain-free motion of the cervical spine 3
  • Absence of fractures or dislocations in routine roentgenograms of the cervical spine 3
  • Presence of developmental spinal stenosis, congenital fusion, cervical instability, or intervertebral disc disease in some patients 2, 3

Note on Related Conditions

While the provided studies primarily focus on neuropraxia, particularly in the context of cervical spinal cord injuries, another study discusses the management of neuropathic pain, which can be related to but is not directly about neuropraxia 4. This study on pregabalin's effects on neuropathic pain does not directly address the symptoms of neuropraxia but highlights the complexity of managing neuropathic pain conditions.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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