Nerve damage

Healing peripheral nerves

Nerve fibers are made up of chains of nerve cells called neurons. Each neuron consists of a cell body and linking elements called axons and dendrites. Bundles of fibers make up a nerve. When damaged, central nervous system neurons have limited ability to heal, while peripheral nerves have a much better chance of recovery.

1. When a neuron is damaged, repair begins within 24 to 48 hours. The cell body swells as structures called nissl bodies break up and become granular (see figure, left).

2. The myelin tube grows together over the injury site, as the axon away from the cell body breaks down.

3. As the cell body recovers, the axon grows back into the myelin tube, eventually re-establishing neural connections, though restoration of full function is unlikely.

LABELS:
Axon
Axon terminals
Myelin sheath
Before injury
After injury
Cell body
Nissl bodies
Nucleus
Dendrites
Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
Peripheral nervous system
Brachial plexus

Text and illustrations by Kevin T. Boyd

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Acupressure for nerve pain
Here is a list of acupressure points for Neuralgia on PointFinder.org. You may also want to try finding points for the specific body part that hurts, using the friendly body browser or the A-Z list of symptoms and body areas.
If this is your first time, please read the instructions. Don’t use acupressure to replace standard emergency procedures or licensed medical treatment. If you are seriously injured or have acute symptoms seek urgent medical treatment.

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