Symptoms of nervous system damage usually fall into three groups: sensory changes such as numbness, tingling, burning or pins and needles; motor changes such as weakness, cramping, twitching or clumsiness; and autonomic changes such as dizziness when you stand, sweating changes or bladder and bowel problems. Where the symptoms show up helps point to where the problem is: the brain, the spinal cord, a nerve root in the neck or low back, or a nerve in an arm or leg. A neurological exam, and when appropriate an EMG and nerve conduction study, can help show which nerve is involved.
Call 911 or Go to the ER for These Symptoms
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side
- Sudden trouble speaking, understanding speech, seeing, or walking
- A sudden, severe headache, or a headache after a head injury that keeps getting worse
- Loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting or confusion after a head injury
- New loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin and inner thighs (saddle numbness), which can signal cauda equina syndrome
- Weakness that is getting worse over hours or days
These can be signs of a stroke, a brain injury or spinal cord or nerve root compression that needs emergency care, not a clinic appointment.
Key Facts
- The central nervous system is the brain and spinal cord; the peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves that branches from them to the rest of the body.
- A nerve conduction study measures how fast and how strongly electrical signals travel along a nerve.
- EMG signs of nerve injury may take about three weeks to appear, so testing too soon after an injury can be less informative.
- An EMG measures nerve and muscle function; it does not measure pain.
- At East Coast Injury Clinic, EMG and nerve conduction testing is performed by chiropractic neurologists with diplomate training in electrodiagnosis.
Central vs. Peripheral Nervous System
The central nervous system is the brain and spinal cord. Problems here tend to affect larger areas or several functions at once: thinking and memory, speech, vision, balance, or strength on one side of the body. The peripheral nervous system is every nerve outside the brain and spinal cord, including the nerve roots that exit the spine. Problems here usually cause symptoms in a specific pattern, such as numbness down one arm into certain fingers, or pain that runs from the low back down the leg.
Symptoms by Type
| Type | What you may notice |
| Sensory | Numbness, tingling, pins and needles, burning, electric or shooting pain, sensitivity to light touch, trouble feeling temperature |
| Motor | Weakness, dropping things, a foot that catches or drags, muscle cramps or twitching, muscle shrinking over time |
| Balance and coordination | Unsteadiness, dizziness, clumsiness, trouble walking in the dark |
| Cognitive | Trouble concentrating, memory lapses, slowed thinking, word-finding problems, often after a concussion |
| Autonomic | Lightheadedness when standing, sweating changes, bladder or bowel changes |
Nerve Symptoms After an Injury
After a car accident or a work injury, the most common nerve problems we evaluate are:
- Pinched nerve roots (radiculopathy) in the neck or low back, often from a herniated disc, causing pain, numbness or weakness down an arm or leg. Sciatica is lumbar radiculopathy.
- Compressed or stretched peripheral nerves, such as at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) or elbow.
- Concussion and post-concussion symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating and sensitivity to light. Our guide to how brain injuries are diagnosed after an accident explains the exam and imaging steps. See our concussion care.
- Whiplash-related symptoms, where neck injury is sometimes accompanied by arm tingling or headaches. Our guide to whiplash recovery times explains how long these symptoms can last.
Symptoms don’t always start right away. Some people notice numbness, headaches or dizziness days after a crash. If that happens, get evaluated rather than waiting to see if it passes.
For a crash anywhere in Duval County, from I-95 and I-295 to J. Turner Butler Blvd, keep the timing in mind: Florida PIP pays medical benefits only if initial care begins within 14 days of the accident.
How a Neurological Evaluation Works
A neurological assessment starts with your history and a hands-on exam: reflexes, sensation to light touch and pinprick, muscle strength, coordination, balance and eye movements. The pattern of findings helps show whether a problem is more likely in the brain, spinal cord, a nerve root or a peripheral nerve. For dizziness and balance problems, testing such as videonystagmography (VNG) may be used. Learn more about our neurological evaluation services.
EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies
Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCV) are tests of how nerves and muscles are working. A nerve conduction study uses small electrodes on the skin and brief electrical pulses to measure how fast and how strongly signals travel along a nerve. Needle EMG records the electrical activity inside a muscle at rest and when you tighten it. Together, they can help identify radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy and some nerve injuries after trauma.
Two honest limits: EMG signs of nerve injury may take about three weeks to appear, so testing right after an injury can be less informative, and a normal result doesn’t rule out every nerve problem. EMG doesn’t measure pain. Imaging such as an MRI shows structure (for example, a disc pressing on a nerve), while EMG shows function; the two answer different questions. We refer out for MRI.
What We Treat and When We Refer
East Coast Injury Clinic evaluates and treats nerve symptoms related to injuries, such as pinched nerves, disc injuries, whiplash and concussion, with a team that includes chiropractic neurologists, medical providers and physical therapists. Some conditions need a medical neurologist or another specialist, for example multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, stroke, or nerve symptoms with no clear cause. When that’s the case, we’ll tell you and help you get to the right specialist.
Our Jacksonville Clinics
Our chiropractic neurologists and electrodiagnostic team see patients at both Jacksonville clinics. The Deerwood clinic is at 10550 Deerwood Park Blvd, Suite 609, Jacksonville, FL 32256, near J. Turner Butler Blvd (JTB), I-295 and Southside Blvd, a short drive from the St. Johns Town Center area. The North Jacksonville clinic is at 13453 N Main St, Suite 302, Jacksonville, FL 32218, on N Main St north of I-295. Both clinics are open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Call (904) 513-3954 or request an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the early signs of nerve damage?
Early signs often include numbness, tingling, pins and needles, burning pain, or mild weakness in a specific area, such as the fingers or one leg. Sudden weakness, trouble speaking or new bladder or bowel changes are emergencies.
What does an EMG test show?
An EMG and nerve conduction study show how well nerves carry signals and how muscles respond. They can help identify radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy and some nerve injuries after trauma. They don’t measure pain.
When should I get an EMG after an accident?
EMG signs of nerve injury may take about three weeks to appear, so testing too early can be less informative. Your provider will recommend when testing is likely to be most useful, based on your exam.
Can nerve damage show up on an MRI?
An MRI shows structures, such as a herniated disc pressing on a nerve root, but it doesn’t measure how the nerve is working. An EMG and nerve conduction study measure function. The two tests answer different questions and are often used together.
Is numbness after a car accident serious?
It can be. Numbness or tingling after a crash may come from a pinched nerve in the neck or back, or another nerve injury. Get it evaluated, and go to the ER right away for one-sided weakness, trouble speaking, a severe headache or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Can damaged nerves heal?
Some nerve injuries improve over time, especially when the pressure on the nerve is relieved, while others leave lasting symptoms. Recovery depends on the type and severity of the injury. Individual results vary.
Who should I see for nerve symptoms after an injury?
Start with a provider who can do a full neurological exam and arrange testing if needed. At East Coast Injury Clinic, our chiropractic neurologists, medical providers and physical therapists evaluate injury-related nerve symptoms, and we refer to a medical neurologist when a condition calls for one.
