Peripheral Nerve Disorder Care
If a peripheral nerve condition is affecting your quality of life, turn to UC San Diego Health.
We are a regional leader in the treatment of nerve pain, nerve compression injuries, nerve trauma, and other peripheral nerve disorders.
What are Peripheral Nerves?
Peripheral nerves are an integral part of the human nervous system. The nervous system consists of:
- Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
- Peripheral nervous system
Peripheral nerves reside outside the brain and spinal cord. They relay information between the brain and the rest of the body.
The peripheral nervous system is divided into two main parts:
- Autonomic nervous system (ANS): Controls involuntary bodily functions and regulates glands
- Somatic nervous system (SNS): Controls muscle movement and relays information from the ears, eyes and skin to the central nervous system
Nerves in the Peripheral Nervous System
- Brachial plexus (including the radial, median and ulnar nerves)
- Peroneal nerve (associated with foot drop)
- Femoral nerve
- Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
- Sciatic nerve
- Spinal accessory nerve
- Tibial nerve
Conditions We Treat
Nerve Sheath Tumors
The nerve sheath is the tissue that covers and protects nerves. Nerve sheath tumors grow directly from the nerve itself. They usually develop randomly, but can occasionally be caused by a health condition or syndrome, such as neurofibromatosis (type 1 and type 2).
Nerve tumors are one of the following:
- Benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor (e.g., neurofibromas, schwannomas)
- Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (sarcomas)
Neurofibromas and schwannomas are non-cancerous and are the most common type of nerve tumor. Acoustic neuroma is another type of benign nerve tumor.
Peripheral nerve tumors usually grow slowly and may be noticed as a lump in the body. They can interfere with normal activities, causing discomfort, tingling, numbness, weakness or severe pain.
Patients often consider removing these tumors when they become problematic. Removal can usually be performed without destroying the nerve. The tumor can usually be resected from the nerve itself without harming the nerve's function.
Cancerous Nerve Tumors
Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are rarely malignant (cancerous).
Cancerous peripheral nerve tumors are more problematic and painful, and tend to grow rapidly. If there is any question about whether a tumor is cancerous, it is important to get a needle biopsy or specialized testing done to be sure.
If the tumor is believed to be cancerous, surgery is performed to remove all of the tumor, including a large portion of the nerve from which the tumor came. Nerve function, which may be lost with tumor removal, can later be improved with nerve transfers. Learn more about brain tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Nerve Pain
We treat nerve pain, including meralgia paresthetica, occipital neuralgia, inguinal neuralgia and neuromas.
Nerve Compression
Surgical treatment to decompress the nerve may be considered for entrapment neuropathies such as carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome and peroneal neuropathy.
Nerve Injuries
Trauma and sometimes even other surgical procedures can result in paralysis and disability affecting specific nerves. Our peripheral nerve experts can treat these nerve injuries (including brachial plexus and facial nerve injuries) and restore function.
Personalized Care Plan
We get to know you so we can develop a customized plan that aligns with your goals and improves your daily quality of life. This can include nonsurgical treatments and surgery.
Video: Specialized Treatment for Peripheral Nerve Conditions
Peripheral nerve conditions can be difficult to diagnose. In this video, Dr. Nikhil Murthy explains how UC San Diego Health's multidisciplinary team provides expert diagnosis and advanced treatment for nerve injuries, nerve pain and nerve tumors.
Note: An extended, audio-described version of this video, including narration of important visual elements, is available on the UC San Diego Health YouTube channel: Play the audio-described version.
Nonsurgical Treatment for Peripheral Nerve Disorders
- Acupuncture
- Medication for neuropathy and pain management
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Orthotics
- Injections and stimulators
Surgical Treatment for Peripheral Nerve Disorders
Tumors, Cancer and Inflammatory Conditions
- Open and minimally invasive nerve tumor surgery (schwannoma, neurofibroma, malignant nerve tumors)
- Robotic-assisted nerve tumor surgery for thoracic, abdominal and pelvic nerve tumors
- Nerve biopsy for neuromuscular disease or metastatic cancer to nerves
Nerve Injury
- Nerve transfer surgery for improved function
- Nerve decompression, repair and nerve grafting to repair the injury directly
- Nerve surgery for spasticity with brain or spinal cord injury
- Phrenic nerve stimulation for diaphragm paralysis
Peripheral Nerve Pain or Weakness
- Nerve decompression surgery (such as carpal tunnel, ulnar nerve, peroneal nerve, tarsal tunnel, thoracic outlet, etc.)
- Nerve removal surgery (neurectomy) for pain (such as meralgia paresthetica)
- Regenerative peripheral nerve interface or targeted muscle reinnervation for neuroma treatment
Nerve Pain and Injury Experts
Our specialists are able to quickly diagnose and treat nerve-related functional impairments and nerve tumors using leading-edge surgical techniques.
Meet Our Specialists
Location
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