Nerve injuries can affect any part of the body. Justin Brohard, DO, is an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeonat Salem Health Orthopedics – Salem. He says around the ankle, any of the nerves can be stretched or damaged due to trauma and injury.

“Trauma such as a car crash, sports injury or a laceration are the most common reasons for nerve injury below the knee,” Dr. Brohard said. “They can also occur at the time of , although care is generally taken to identify and protect the nerves. Sometimes, though, even retracting a nerve for surgery can cause a traction injury to the nerve which can lead to symptoms of burning, pain, and numbness or tingling.”

When to see a doctor

Dr. Brohard said it’s important to see a doctor to address nerve injuries as soon as possible.

“Generally, in the setting of an injury, you will have a doctor examine the function of the nerves to look for nerve injury,” he said. “The same if you have a laceration or major trauma.”

The orthopedic surgeon said it’s a good idea to seek care for progressively worsening pain, whether it’s from a nerve issues related to overuse or deformity, or a symptom that doesn’t improve with home treatments.

“Nerve symptoms usually include burning and radiating pain, numbness, tingling and sometimes weakness,” Dr. Brohard said. “If you have new onset numbness or weakness, it should be evaluated by a medical provider.”

The road to recovery

Dr. Brohard said patience is key during recovery, as nerve injuries can take up to two years to fully recover.

“The majority of nerve injuries are from compression or traction and will recover on their own with time or with nonsurgical treatments,” he said. “If a nerve is lacerated or significantly compressed, this can require surgery to repair the nerve or decompress and release the nerve.”

Dr. Brohard notes that nerves are one of the more challenging parts of the body to work with in orthopedics.

“They can be easily injured, and, despite the best interventions, do not recover fully 100% of the time,” he said. “So it is possible that you will have permanent nerve symptoms after a nerve injury. Thankfully, most will fully recover, but it does often take a long time.”

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