Peripheral Neuropathy – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

 

Peripheral neuropathy is disorder of nerve (s) apart from the brain and spinal cord. Patients with peripheral neuropathy may have tingling, numbness, unusual sensations, weakness, pain or burning.



Peripheral nerves also send sensory information to the brain and spinal cord, for example, a message that the feet are cold or a finger is burned. The damage to the peripheral nervous system affecting these important connections. Like static on a telephone line, peripheral neuropathy distorts and sometimes interrupts messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Since all the peripheral nerves have a very specialized function in a particular body part, a wide spectrum of symptoms can occur when nerves are damaged.



Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with the functioning of the nerves outside the spine. Symptoms include numbness, weakness, burning pain (especially at night), and loss of reflexes. Possible causes could be carpel tunnel syndrome, paresthetica Meralgo, vitamin or nutritional deficiencies and diseases such as diabetes, syphilis, AIDS, and renal failure. Most of the causes of peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated or prevented.





The nerve injury peripheral neuropathy usually appears as a complication of other diseases such as diabetes or AIDS, or as a reaction to drugs or chemicals. nerve damage can be caused by viral and bacterial infections, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cancer, vitamin deficiency, kidney disease, liver disease, or hereditary conditions. Other cases of peripheral neuropathy include trauma, penetrating wounds, contusions, fractures and dislocated bones. Nerve damage can also result from prolonged exposure to radiation of heat or cold treatment for cancer, severe vomiting (which may occur during early pregnancy) and various other causes.



Peripheral neuropathy is sometimes caused by HIV, but is usually a side effect of drugs. Sometimes neuropathy can be caused by vitamin deficiency or diabetes. The diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy occurs through a physical exam. Tests of vitamin B12 levels, thyroid function and levels of blood sugar are also used to monitor vitamin A deficiency or diabetes. If peripheral neuropathy is caused by a drug, the symptoms are usually better when the drug is discontinued, although it may take 6-8 weeks and the pain may actually be worse for a while ‘.





No medical treatments that can cure inherited peripheral neuropathy. But there are treatments for many other forms. In general, adopting healthy habits – the weight as best as possible, avoiding exposure to toxins, Following a doctor monitored exercise program, eat a balanced diet, correcting vitamin deficiencies, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption – can reduce the physical and emotional peripheral neuropathy. Systemic diseases frequently require more complex treatments.



In general, drug therapy for peripheral neuropathy is individualized for each patient and depends on a number of factors that your doctor will consider that your past and present medical history, the seriousness of pain, take medications, the presence of other conditions of serious co-morbidity (eg, kidney disease, liver disease) and history of drug allergy. Many of the drugs used for treating peripheral neuropathy are used off-label “, which means they are approved by the UP Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of other specific conditions (not peripheral neuropathy), but it proved in over time to be effective for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy.