Can ACUPUNCTURE be used to deaden nerves of the body permanently?

BOMBA_STARR

I've heard a lot about acupuncture but I was wondering if it can deaden the nerves of a particular body area permanently.

If not, is there a medical prodecure that can be done --- and I'm not talking about amputation or paralysis.

Ira

Accupuncture is supposed to do that on a temporary basis. I don't really know if it actually works or not.

As for surgical procedures, nerves can be easily cut. It's considered a minor surgery.

clone

Ira: Is it possible to kill the nerve by injecting certain substances into it? That way there would be no need for surgery.

Ira

Peripheral nerve destruction by injecting phenol or alcohol is not really done for all types of neuropathic pain, and this is only done when other therapies (palliative radiation, TENS, pharmacotherapy) have been tried and are ineffective or poorly tolerated. Success is found in around half of the patients, targetting of the nerve is not that precise, pain recurrence is common because an alcohol-damaged nerve regenerates over weeks to months, and in some types of nerve pain, injection makes it worse.

clone

Thanks for the explanation, Ira. But don't cut nerves, surgically or otherwise, also regenerate? I've heard of people getting a painful neuroma where the nerve had been previously cut. Can you please explain what exactly is a neuroma, how does it form, what causes it (other than a cut nerve), and what can be done about it.

As always, any medical light you shed on this forum is truly appreciated. Keep up the good work, Ira.

Ira

Neuroma in continuity is the fusiform swelling of a cut end of a nerve (whether cut surgically or thru traumatic injury) when distal scar tissue becomes adherent to it, causing neuralgic pains. It can be prevented from occuring, depending on the area of lysis, if the surgeon buries the transected nerve ending within the muscle/bone, or applies a chemical on the end, and of course, appropriate intraop magnification. Treatment of neuroma in continuity is basically trimming the end-bulb neuroma and allowing it to retract into healthy muscle. Nerves may regenerate either post surgery or post chemical neurolysis in half the patients.

clone

Your explanation sounds very impressive, Ira. Now, can you please say it in layman's term? My untrained mind could not understand some of the profound medical terms. Thanks.

Ira

The actual term for the neuroma you mentioned which occurs in nerve transection is "neuroma-in-continuity"--neuroma may mean a type of tumor also which occurs in the central nervous system (e.g. acoustic neuromma). Neuroma in continuity is the roundlike swelling of the cut nerve end when the scarred tissue (due to injury) becomes adherent to the nerve. When this happens, the person develops shooting, electric-like pains (neuralgic). You can significantly lower the chances of developing this by burying the cut nerve ending into healthy muscle, para di sya dumikit sa scar. Some surgeons apply chemicals to the cut nerve endings pa.

clone

Thanks, Ira. I think I'm starting to understand it a little better. See if this is correct: A neuroma is a swelling in a nerve which can occur naturally or after a trauma. It becomes painful when scar tissue sticks to it so it's best to bury the cut end in healthy muscle tissue to...is it to prevent scar tissue from forming?

So, how about neuroma in the central nervous system? How do you manage that? Will acupuncture help that (getting back on topic. )

Thanks again, Ira.

Ira

Re your first paragraph: Yes.

As for acoustic neuroma, it's a type of benign cerebellopontine angle tumor. Treatment is thru excision and alternatively, thru stereotactic radiosurgery.

clone

Originally posted by Ira:
Re your first paragraph: Yes.

As for acoustic neuroma, it's a type of benign cerebellopontine angle tumor. Treatment is thru excision and alternatively, thru stereotactic radiosurgery.

If acoustic neuroma is benign why does it have to be removed? Does it grow real big? What symptoms can you expect from it? Is "radiosurgery" done through x-rays or by radium implants?

Ira, I hope you don't mind if I'm full of questions. I'm just the curious type. Thanks again, Doc.

Ira

Originally posted by clone:

If acoustic neuroma is benign why does it have to be removed? Does it grow real big?

Brain tumors, whether benign or malignant, should be treated because they grow in size. While it won't metastasize or become aggressive, if it becomes large enough, it can kill you by, for example, pressing on the brainstem.

What symptoms can you expect from it?

For acoustic neuromas, symptoms like tinnitus, imbalance, dizziness, paralysis of one side of the face, shooting pains on one side of the face, and occipital pains are commonplace.

Is "radiosurgery" done through x-rays or by radium implants?

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a precise way to give radiation to a brain lesion. This is an option given to patients with a small brain lesion who do not want to undergo surgery. A patient is made to wear a frame, MRIs are taken, and the tumor's 3D location is plotted thru computers. It uses either linear accelerator or cobalt rays (both are basically the same), with the rays guided by precise lasers to target the affected area. The difference between the regular whole brain irradiation and SRS is that with SRS, different, minute radiations (not enough to affect the brain matter come from all directions and meet at a specific central target point (the tumor). Added up, the beams are enough to destroy the tumor, unlike in regular radiation where you can only give a certain amount (since you radiate the whole head, pasensya na lang ang normal brain) for fear that you may destroy the normal brain matter. SRS also requires only one session lasting less than an hour, and the patient is awake and painless the whole time. With normal radiation, you need around 1 month of daily radiation. You see visible effects of the SRS usually at 6 months thru MRI.

Ira, I hope you don't mind if I'm full of questions. I'm just the curious type. Thanks again, Doc.

No problem, and you're welcome.

clone

Thanks for the clarifications, Ira. You are one heck of a teacher. BTW, do you teach in any medical school?

Ira

No, I don't. I will hopefully teach neurosciences in medical school in the future, though.

Ira

I'm not sure with the foreign medical school rules, but local med schools have a cutoff of 35 years. So you still have time.

clone

I'm pretty sure you'll be an excellent teacher of neurosciences, Ira. Hey, I may even be tempted to enroll in that medical school. Heh Heh Heh! j/k! I don't think they accept students over 30 anyway...do they?