Peripheral neuropathy is a group of conditions involving damaged or diseased nerves. There are many different forms of peripheral neuropathy, mainly divided into two types: mononeuropathy and polyneuropathy. Mononeuropathy, like its name suggests, is when only one nerve is damaged. Polyneuropathy is when multiple nerves around the body are damaged.
One very prevalent type of chronic polyneuropathy is diabetic neuropathy. This condition occurs in diabetics, particularly those with poor blood sugar control.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of PN are tingling and numbness in the hands and feet. Depending on which nerves are affected, you may also experience:
- Sharp, throbbing, or burning pain
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Loss of bowel and/or bladder control
- Sexual dysfunction
- Low blood pressure
- Sensitivity to touch
- Lack of coordination and/or falling
- Muscle weakness
Causes and Risk Factors
There’s no one cause of PN, since it’s not actually a single disease. It’s a group of disorders, and there are many different causes. Some of the triggers for neuropathy include:
- Alcoholism
- Autoimmune disease
- Bone marrow disorders
- Certain infections
- Chemotherapy
- Diabetes
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Trauma
- Tumors
- Vitamin deficiencies
There are also some cases of PN where no specific cause can be identified. However, knowing the common causes listed above can help identify people at risk for neuropathy. For example, more than half of all diabetics develop some sort of PN. Those whose blood sugar levels are poorly controlled are at higher risk.
People with kidney, liver, or thyroid disorders are also more likely to develop peripheral neuropathy. In addition, family history puts you at higher risk.
Prevention and Management
People at risk for damaged nerves should take steps to prevent developing neuropathy. The best way to prevent it is to manage the condition that may cause the damage. It will also help to make healthy lifestyle choices, by avoiding alcohol, eating a good diet, and exercising regularly.
If you have already been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, you can manage the condition with a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking, treat injuries and wounds right away, and take care of your extremities.
Complications
People suffering from peripheral neuropathy often lose all sensation in their extremities. They can’t feel temperature or pain, so they may burn themselves without realizing. They may also develop sores from injuries or extended pressure they don’t feel.
If your foot becomes injured without you realizing it, it can become infected quickly. As mentioned above, it’s important to check for injuries regularly and treat them before they get infected. Allowing infections to fester untreated may result in limb amputations.
Another complication of peripheral neuropathy is increased risk of falls. Weakness and loss of sensations in the feet make falls more likely.
In order to avoid complications and control the condition, see your doctor right away if you are at risk for PN and you begin experiencing symptoms.
