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What is peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a type of damage to the nervous system. Specifically, it's a problem with your peripheral nervous system. This is the network of nerves that sends information from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) to the rest of your body. Peripheral nerves are the nerves that exit the spinal canal or skull and go to your face, trunk, or arms and legs.

There are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy. Each has its own set of symptoms and prognosis. To help healthcare providers classify them, they are often broken down into these categories:

Peripheral neuropathy has many different causes. Some people inherit the disorder from their parents. Others develop it because of an injury or another disorder.

In many cases, a different type of problem, such as a kidney condition or a hormone imbalance, leads to peripheral neuropathy. One of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy in the U.S. is diabetes. Nerves can also be damaged from:

These are risk factors for peripheral neuropathy:

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy vary based on the type that you have and what part of the body is affected. Symptoms can range from tingling or numbness in a certain body part to more serious effects such as burning pain or paralysis. They may include:

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

The symptoms and body parts affected by peripheral neuropathy are so varied that it may be hard to make a diagnosis. If your healthcare provider suspects nerve damage, they will ask about your medical history and do a number of neurological tests. These can help determine the location and extent of your nerve damage. Thesemay include:

Depending on what basic tests reveal, your healthcare provider may want to do more in-depth scanning. You may need other tests to get a better look at your nerve damage, such as:

Often peripheral neuropathy cant be cured. But you can do a lot of things to prevent it from getting worse. If an underlying condition like diabetes is at fault, your healthcare provider will treat that first. They will then treat the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy.

In some cases, over-the-counter pain relievers can help. Other times, prescription medicines are needed. Some of these medicines are:

Lidocaine injections and patches may help with pain in other cases. And in extreme cases, surgery can be used to destroy nerves or fix injuries that are causing neuropathic pain and symptoms.

Physical therapy can treat weakness and muscle loss. It can also treat problems with balance. Some people may need splints or braces to help them walk.

Lifestyle choices can play a role in preventing peripheral neuropathy. You can lessen your risk for many of these conditions by:

Even if you already have some form of peripheral neuropathy, healthy lifestyle steps can help you feel your best. They can also reduce the pain and symptoms related to the disorder. Youll also want to quit smoking. And don't let injuries go untreated.

Be meticulous about caring for your feet and treating wounds to avoid complications, such as the loss of a limb. Check your feet for red areas every day. Use a mirror to check between your toes and the bottoms of your feet. Contact your provider if you have an open sore.

In some cases, hand and foot braces can help you make up for muscle weakness. Orthotics can help you walk better. Relaxation techniques, such as yoga, may help ease emotional as well as physical symptoms.

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

See the article here:
Peripheral Neuropathy | University Hospitals

This entry was posted on May 9, 2023 at 12:07 am and is filed under Neuropathy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |