Patients with nerve inflammation may be caused by postsurgical neuropathy, according to a study published in the journal Brain.

Postsurgical neuropathy is a rare occurrence that happens after an individual undergoes a procedure that results in pain, numbness or weakness. The complication occurs when nerves connected to brain and the spinal cord become inflamed due to the stretching of nerves during surgery.

For this trial, a team of researchers observed the development of the nerve inflammation in 23 individuals who were within 30 days of surgery. After all the patients underwent a nerve biopsy, a total of 21 suffered increased inflammation, and 17 of the inflammatory patients followed up with immunotherapy.

After three months, the 17 patients who received the nerve treatment experienced less symptoms caused by postsurgical neuropathy.

P. James Dyck, lead author of the study, stated that “it is important that a person with postsurgical inflammatory neuropathy receive a diagnosis and treatment quickly.” He added that “understanding the role of inflammation in these patients’ neuropathy can lead to appropriate immunotherapy and improvement of neurological symptoms and impairments.”

People who wish to alleviate inflammation symptoms can benefit from several natural alternatives, such as adding fish oil, ginger and green tea to their diet, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.