Do You Have These Telltale Signs of Peripheral Neuropathy?

What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects the nerves outside or the brain or spine, and it’s most commonly seen in hands and feet. The interruption of information flow due to inflammation or some kind of damage creates an array of symptoms that range from pins and needles to muscle weakness. However there are other symptoms that may not be very obviously associated and can present a confusing cluster of things that seem to have no connection. 

To get an accurate diagnosis, patients first should be aware that what they are feeling is not an impossible to figure out illness, but a common condition that has treatment options. Getting back control of your body is a possibility. This is why University Pain and Spine Center has gathered the symptoms that are key in finding diagnosis for peripheral neuropathy.

What Are the Causes?

Peripheral neuropathy happens when groups of nerves in the body are blocked from transmitting the proper information into the brain. There are many reasons why it develops, but the most commonly found are:

• Injury (direct or indirect trauma)
• Lyme’s disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetes
• Toxin consumption (alcohol and some drugs)
• Medications and treatments like chemotherapy

In some people, peripheral neuropathy may present without a clear reason, which is why consulting with a medical professional is essential to getting a proper diagnosis.

Telltale Signs of Peripheral Neuropathy

Although there are some unexpected symptoms that come with peripheral neuropathy, the next symptoms we list are the ones that can help to discern the condition from other similarly presenting issues.

Numbness or Tingling Sensation

One of the most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy is the sensation of numbness or tingling in the extremities or otherwise affected area. Some describe it as pins and needles, something like burning, or even the loss of feeling. 

Muscle Weakness

Because peripheral neuropathy is the interruption of communication between the brain and a part of the body, some people experience muscle weakness. A noticeable decline in coordination in the arms or legs happens to many who have the condition.

Sharp or Shooting Pain

For some people, the discomfort might escalate into intense bouts of pain that have a sharp quality to them. The pain can be localized or spread around the area the nerve goes through. It can be a debilitating symptom that even impedes daily function.

Foot Problems

It’s common for people who develop peripheral neuropathy as a byproduct of diabetes to experience symptoms like sensation loss in their feet before any other place of the body. Unfortunately, decreased perception can lead to more injuries that go by undetected and can become problematic easily.

Sensitivity to Touch and Temperature

The normal reception of stimuli like touch and temperature can be affected by peripheral neuropathy. Many people find that they become sensitive to even light pressure, or that their body isn’t regulating how hot or cold it is.

See more: 3 Ways to Diagnose Peripheral Neuropathy in New Jersey

Other Associated Symptoms

Any condition that affects the nervous system is bound to have some symptoms that seem out of place or completely unrelated. The body is a complicated network that connects unexpected functions together, and that can throw off people when they are trying to understand what may be going on.

Peripheral neuropathy also has it’s collection of unexpected symptoms, so if you are experiencing any of these as well as the typical ones, it’s not random, they are probably connected.

Loss of Balance

Damage to the peripheral nerves can cause you to have a hard time keeping track of your balance or of where every part of your body is, leading to clumsiness and a higher risk of falling. Maintaining a stable position while walking or standing up can also become challenging.

Digestive Issues

Sometimes, the damage happens to the nerves that control your digestive system. This can cause problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Loss of Reflexes

When at your GP appointment, doctors will usually test if knee jerk reactions and other instinctual reflexes are working correctly. Peripheral neuropathy can result in diminished or completely absent response.

Sleep Disturbances

The fact that this neuropathy causes pain and sensory discomfort for most people tends to create issues with sleep. The things that your body experiences can unconsciously make it harder to rest and stay without waking during the whole night.