What is Peripheral Neuropathy?
As part of the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system is made up of two components within the nervous system of humans. It is consisting of the nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord.
To find out of you or someone else have PN, there must be a thorough examination of medical history and also be given a neurological exam.
Polyneuropathy– cause of peripheral nerve damage
There are many different causes of polyneuropathy, with some of the most common ones being:
- Diabetes
- Shingles
- Alcohol abuse
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland)
Guillain Barre Syndrome:
One of the severe leading types of polyneuropathy. Characterizations of this would be progressive tingling and weakness, starting in the feet and rapidly growing up the legs. GBS can then affect the muscles that control breathing.
Mononeuropathy
It is a localized neuropathy, which is where only one nerve is damaged. Usually from trauma, compression, or entrapment. Which would be carpal tunnel syndrome, which refers to compression of the median nerve, causing numbness and tingling in the wrist.
Sensory
Receiving input from various locations of the body. Then to send messages to the brain about the body’s sensations, such as hot and cold, pain, and touch. If a sensory nerve is damaged, these would be the results.
- Lack of sensation to pain changes in temperature
- Unusual sensations like vibration, numbness, and tingling, burning, stabbing, electrical, or crawling
- Pain from a light touch that is ordinarily painless (called allodynia)
- Loss of position sense and balance problems
- Change in temperature
Diabetic polyneuropathy is an example of predominantly sensory nerve damage (in this case, from high blood sugar levels). Symptoms usually begin in the toes and feet (on both sides of the body) and may include numbness, prickling, tingling, burning, and pain which become worse in the evening or while sleeping. If the disease progresses, it will then move up the legs, mid-calves, and even hand problems would begin to develop.
Motor nerves transmit messages from the brain and spinal cord, telling various muscles to move. When motor nerves are damaged, the most common symptom is muscle weakness.
Other symptoms and signs may include:
- Muscle cramping and shrinking
- Fasciculations (when a muscle twitches without your control)
- Reflex abnormalities
Autonomic
By regulating how your internal organs, such as your blood vessels, stomach, heart, and sweat glands, function.
Common symptoms and signs of autonomic nerve damage include:
- Excess sweating
- Heat intolerance
- Early satiety
- Impotence
- Orthostatic hypotension
Keep in mind, the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can range in intensity from mildly bothersome to severe and disabling and develop gradually over the years, or in some cases, over days.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy begins with a neurological examination.
Neurological Examination
Blood Tests
Nerve-Specific Tests
Autonomic Tests
and other test.
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