Tremors, numbness, seizures — most people know that these are common signs of a nervous system disorder. However, these are not the only signs of nerve conditions and nerve damage. Some people go months or even years with an undiagnosed nerve or brain condition because they don't realize the symptoms they're experiencing are related to the nervous system. You don't want to be one of those people, so take a look at these often-overlooked signs of nerve conditions and nerve damage.

Changes in Taste and Smell

Your senses of taste and smell are, of course, regulated by your brain. Nerves convey the messages to your brain. As such, changes in your ability to taste or smell can indicate brain damage or damage to the nerves associated with these senses. You may notice that you no longer enjoy foods that you used to love, that foods taste strange, or that you need to add a lot more seasoning to foods in order to taste them. As far as smell goes, you might notice that you find scents everyone else loves unappealing, or that you never smell a bad odor when others complain about it.

Cold Extremities

Cold extremities can indicate that you have poor circulation. However, chilly hands and feet can also indicate nerve damage. Your nerves are supposed to sense how warm or cold the air around you is so that your body can adjust circulation accordingly. If your nerves are not picking up on the air temperature, your extremities might always be cold or clammy.

Unexplained Pain

If you have pain in a certain joint or muscle, you should be examined to rule out the possibility of strains and sprains. If there does not seem to be a physical explanation for the pain, nerve damage might be at fault. Your nerves that are supposed to send pain signals to your brain could be misfiring, sending pain signals even though there is no damage to the area.

Clumsiness

Are you always bumping into things, dropping things, or fumbling? Some people are naturally clumsy, and if you have always been this way, there's probably no reason to worry. On the other hand, if your clumsiness is getting worse, it could be due to nerve damage. Your nerves need to coordinate the actions of your muscles with what you see and sense around you — and if they fail to do that, you might walk right into that corner or drop the container rather than grabbing it.

If you are dealing with any of the symptoms above, make sure you get checked out by a brain or nervous system specialist near you.