Our Services / Peripheral Nerve Surgery

When would I need peripheral nerve surgery?

Dr. Mesiwala may recommend surgery when peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) causes pain and other symptoms that don't improve with first-line treatments such as medications, physical therapy, or nerve blocks.

Your peripheral nerves can become damaged for many reasons. You may sustain an injury or develop nerve damage caused by medications, nerve compression, autoimmune diseases, and other medical conditions such as diabetes.

Dr. Mesiwala frequently performs peripheral nerve surgery for conditions such as:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Ulnar neuropathy
• Hemifacial spasm
• Peripheral nerve tumors
• Brachial plexus tumors
• Brachial plexopathy

The symptoms you experience, as well as the type of surgery you need, depend on your diagnosis.

What symptoms indicate I need peripheral nerve surgery?

The peripheral nerves include all of the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord. Your symptoms depend on the type of nerve that's damaged:

Sensory nerves

Sensory nerves pick up information about pain, temperature, pressure, and other senses and send it to your brain. When these nerves become damaged, you experience local and/or radiating pain, tingling, burning, or numbness (loss of feeling).

Motor nerves

These nerves regulate muscles you consciously control, such as those used for walking and talking. Damaged motor nerves cause problems like painful cramps, twitching, muscle weakness, and muscle loss.

Autonomic nerves

Autonomic nerves regulate vital systems you don't control, including heart function, hormone production, breathing, body temperature, and digestion. You can have a wide range of symptoms. For example, you may have a fast heartbeat, excessive sweating, or stomach problems.

What type of peripheral nerve surgery might I need?

Not all nerve injuries require surgery because the peripheral nerves can heal on their own with conservative care. However, when you need surgery, you also need a highly experienced neurosurgeon like Dr. Mesiwala. 

Peripheral nerve surgeries are delicate procedures that require a skilled hand to ensure optimal results.

The types of peripheral nerve surgery include:

Nerve repair

During a nerve repair, Dr. Mesiwala precisely realigns and then reattaches the two ends of a severed nerve.

Tumor removal

Tumor removal is an especially challenging procedure because Dr. Mesiwala must remove the tumor without damaging the nerve. He uses advanced microsurgical techniques and constantly monitors nerve activity during the procedure to safely eliminate the tumor and maintain nerve function.

Nerve release

Entrapment neuropathies occur when the nerve gets compressed. This could happen due to a tumor or injury, but the two most common conditions — carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome — occur when the nerve passes through a narrow, bony tunnel in the wrist and elbow respectively.

Dr. Mesiwala uses minimally invasive surgery to decompress or move the nerve. He decompresses the nerve by releasing (cutting away or separating) the tissues pushing against the nerve.

If you struggle with peripheral neuropathy, call Ali H. Mesiwala, MD, FAANS, or book an appointment online to learn if you can get relief with peripheral nerve surgery.