Are you experiencing pain, weakness or numbness in your hands and feet? These are common peripheral neuropathy symptoms. What is peripheral neuropathy? Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that occurs when the nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body are damaged or destroyed. OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine® explains this condition for patients in the Fort Worth, Arlington and Dallas, Texas area.
What You Need to Know about Peripheral Neuropathy
The peripheral nervous system connects the nerves from the brain and spinal cord, central nervous system, to the rest of the body. These nerves are responsible for delivering signals about physical sensation to the brain. When these nerves malfunction because they are damaged or destroyed, they may send a pain or other troublesome signal to the brain even if nothing is wrong.
Peripheral neuropathy may be caused by:
- An injury or trauma such as an automobile accident, sports injury or fall
- An autoimmune disease such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
- An infection such as shingles, Lyme disease or HIV
- Diabetes
- Tumors
- Kidney disease or liver disease
- An inherited disorder
- Alcoholism
What You Need to Know About Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms
Every nerve in the peripheral nervous system has a specific function, so peripheral neuropathy symptoms vary depending on the nerves affected. The nerves are classified into:
- Sensory nerves that receive sensations such as pain, touch and temperature
- Motor nerves that control movement
- Autonomic nerves that control blood pressure, heart rate, bladder and digestion
Common peripheral neuropathy symptoms include:
- Gradual onset of numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, possibly the arms and legs
- Burning, jabbing or sharp pain
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Falling and lack of coordination
- Muscles weakness
- Excessive sweating
- Digestive issues such as constipation or diarrhea
- Sexual dysfunction, more common in males
Many treatments can bring relief from peripheral neuropathy symptoms such as over-the-counter pain medications, prescription medications, nerve blocks, electronic nerve stimulation, physical therapy and stretching. In some cases, determining an underlying condition may help alleviate the symptoms of this disorder.
Please contact OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine® if you are experiencing peripheral neuropathy symptoms or if you would like more information on peripheral neuropathy.