Peripheral neuropathy: symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition of peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy is a term that describes damage to the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

This condition often causes weakness, numbness, and pain in the hands, feet, and other areas of your body.

The peripheral nervous system sends information from the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) to all other areas of the body. Conversely, peripheral nerves also send sensory information to the central nervous system.

The peripheral nervous system may occur from trauma due to injury, infection, metabolic disorders, to hereditary diseases. However, one of the most common causes is diabetes.

Usually, people who have problems with the peripheral nervous system will feel a burning or stinging pain. However, you can feel less pain, especially if it is caused by a condition that can be treated with medication.

How common is peripheral neuropathy?

There are about 1.6% to 8.2% of the population who experience this disease and it often occurs in diabetes patients. This can be controlled by reducing risk factors. Please consult your doctor for more information.

Types of peripheral neuropathy

Now that you know what peripheral neuropathy is, it is time for you to understand the types of peripheral nerve disease. In fact, there are more than 100 types of peripheral neruopathy present.

Each type has different symptoms. Usually, the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are determined based on the type of nerves that are damaged.

The following are peripheral nerves and their functions that may be damaged when you have peripheral neuropathy. Among others are:

1. Motor nerves

The nerves that regulate the movement of all muscles in the body that are moved consciously, such as the muscles used to walk, reach for objects, or speak.

2. Sensory nerves

Sensory nerves function to transmit information such as how you feel when you get a touch, feel a temperature, or feel pain due to an injury.

3. Autonomous Nerves

These nerves control the body's organs to regulate activities that cannot be controlled consciously, such as breathing, digesting food, and carrying out liver and gland functions.

Most neuropathies can affect all three types of nerves to varying degrees of severity, but some affect only one to two types of nerves.

Doctors usually use the terms dominant motor neuropathy, dominant sensory neuropathy, sensory-motor neuropathy, or autonomic neuropathy to describe a variety of different conditions.

Peripheral neuropathy signs & symptoms

Each nerve in your peripheral system has a specific function, so the symptoms that appear also depend on the type of nerves affected.

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:

• Muscle weakness.
• A burning sensation in the hands or feet that can gradually spread to the arms and calves.
• Pain that feels like burning.
• More sensitive to touch.
• Pain that occurs during activities that are usually painless.
• Loss of coordination and prone to falls.
• Paralysis.

Meanwhile, you may also feel some of the following symptoms, if the autonomic nerves are damaged:

• Cannot stand the temperature or hot air.
• Cannot sweat or sweat excessively.
• Difficulty passing water or digesting food.
• Changes in blood pressure, causing dizziness or lightheadedness like floating.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you feel any of the following:

• Symptoms worsen or do not improve after treatment.
• New symptoms emerge.

Causes of peripheral neuropathy

There are many causes of peripheral neuropathy, such as:

1. Diabetes

One of the main causes of this one peripheral nerve disorder is diabetes, both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. This condition is called diabetic polyneuropathy.

This peripheral neuropathy may occur because blood sugar levels that are too high in the blood damage the blood vessels that supply blood to the nervous system.

The longer you have diabetes, the higher your risk of developing peripheral neuropathy. Diabetics have a higher risk of polyneuropathy if blood sugar levels are not controlled, or have other contributing factors, such as smoking or alcohol consumption, and are over 40 years of age.

2.Physical injury (trauma)

Apart from diabetes, physical injury can cause injury to nerves. For example, injuries from vehicle accidents, falls, sports, and various medical procedures can stretch, crush, or compress a nerve.

Even less severe trauma can cause serious nerve damage. Not only that, fractures or sprains can also cause damage to the surrounding nerves.

3. Autoimmune problems

Autoimmune disorders and infections can also cause peripheral neuropathy. For example, Guillain-Barre syndrome, lupus, rheumatism, and Sjogren's syndrome, are autoimmune disorders that can cause peripheral neuropathy.

Meanwhile, infections such as chickenpox, HIV, herpes, syphilis, Lyme disease, leprosy, Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis C can also cause neuropathy.

4. Blood vessel disorders

Blood vessel disorders or blood disorders can cause decreased oxygen supply to peripheral nerves and lead to nerve tissue damage.

Therefore, diabetes, smoking, and narrowing of blood vessels that occur due to high blood pressure or atherosclerosis can cause peripheral neuropathy.

The reason is, thickened blood vessel walls and injuries can block blood flow and cause nerve damage.

5. Tumors

Tumors, whether cancerous or not, can form in the nervous system or compress the surrounding nerves, causing peripheral neuropathy.

Not only that, paraneoplastic syndrome, or degenerative health problems that occur due to the body's immune system response to cancer, can also cause nerve damage in various areas of the body.

6. Hormone imbalance

Hormones that are not balanced can interfere with normal metabolic processes. If this is the case, the condition can cause swelling of the tissues that can press on the peripheral nerves, causing peripheral neuropathy.

7. Kidney and liver disorders

Kidney and liver disorders can cause an increase in the amount of toxic substances in the blood that can lead to nerve tissue damage. Most people on dialysis for kidney failure experience various types of polyneuropathy.

8. Use of chemotherapy drugs

Chemotherapy drugs that are usually taken to treat various types of cancer can cause polyneuropathy in 30-40% of users. However, only certain chemotherapy drugs can cause neuropathy and not everyone gets them.

Unfortunately, peripheral neuropathy that occurs as a result of using chemotherapy drugs can last for a long time, even though you have not had chemotherapy anymore.

Not only that, radiation therapy can also cause damage to the nervous system, but it will only happen months or years after undergoing radiation.

9. Alcohol addiction

For those of you who are addicted to alcohol, the risk for developing peripheral nerve disorders will increase. The reason is, alcohol can cause neuropathy in two ways.

First, alcohol directly poison the nerves. Then, alcohol addiction makes people more likely to have a bad lifestyle. This causes a lack of nutritional intake, resulting in deficiencies of B vitamins and other nutrients that are important for nerve function.

Peripheral neuropathy risk factors

There are many factors that increase the risk of nerve damage, including peripheral neuropathy, such as:

• Diabetes, especially if blood sugar control is poor.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Lack of vitamins, especially B vitamins.
• Infections such as Lyme disease, smallpox, Epstein-Barr virus infection, hepatitis C and HIV.
• Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, in which the immune system attacks the tissues in your own body.
• Kidney, liver or thyroid gland disease.
• Being exposed to poison.
• Repetitive movements while doing an activity or job.
• Family medical history related to neuropathy.

Diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the most common tests to diagnose this condition?

The doctor will prepare a diagnosis based on clinical records and examinations. In addition, you can also do other tests to confirm the diagnosis and find the cause, such as:

• Magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the brain and spine.
• Nerve conduction studies.
• Electromyography (EMG).
• Nerve biopsy.
• Skin biopsy.
• Lumbar puncture.

Peripheral neuropathy treatment

The goal of peripheral neuropathy treatment is to control the causes and relieve the symptoms. Treatment for this condition is very diverse, ranging from drug use, therapy, to alternative medicine, such as the following:

Use of drugs

Medicines that can be consumed to reduce symptoms:

• Pain relievers, such asnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugsto reduce the pain or pain you feel.
• Anti-seizure drugs, such as gabapentin and pregabalin, which are used to treat nerve pain.
• Topical medications such as capsaicin cream can reduce symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
• Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, doxepin and nortriptyline can relieve pain from chemical processes that occur in the brain or spinal cord.

2. Therapy

Not only drugs, you can also follow medical therapies and procedures that can relieve symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, such as:

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), is done by placing electrodes on the skin to conduct electricity with various frequencies, preferably applied for 30 minutes every day for one month.
• Plasma exchange and intravenous immune globulin,procedures that can help suppress immune system activity, making it beneficial for people with inflammation.
• Physical therapy, especially if you have muscle weakness.
• Surgery, if the neuropathy is due to pressure on the nerves, you may need surgery to reduce pressure on the nerves.

3. Alternative medicine

You may not like drugs and feel better suited to alternative medicine. Well, there are several types of treatment that you can do to relieve symptoms, such as:

• Acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles at specific points on the body to relieve symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. For progress, you may have to undergo several acupuncture sessions.
• Herbal medicines, such as primrose oil, can relieve neuropathy, especially in diabetics. However, make sure the use of this drug is with your doctor's approval.
• Amino acids, such as acetyl-L-carnitine, which may benefit people undergoing chemotherapy.

Home remedies for peripheral neuropathy

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, here are suggestions you can follow to help you manage peripheral neuropathy:

• Take care of your feet, especially if you have diabetes. Check daily for blisters, sores, or calluses. Wear soft, loose cotton socks and fluffy shoes.
• Get some exercise. Ask your doctor about regular exercise you can do. Regular exercise, such as walking three times a week, can reduce neuropathic pain, increase muscle strength, and help control blood sugar levels. Light routines such as yoga and tai chi may also help.
• Quit smoking. Smoking can affect circulation, increasing the risk of foot problems and other neuropathic complications.
• Eat a healthy diet. Eating healthy is very important to ensure that you get essential vitamins and minerals. Consume lean meats and dairy products and include lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet.
• Avoid excessive alcohol. Alcohol can worsen peripheral neuropathy.
• Monitor your blood glucose levels. If you have diabetes, monitoring your blood glucose levels will help keep your blood sugar under control and can help heal your neuropathy.

Everyone can reduce their risk of peripheral neuropathy by maintaining a reasonable alcohol intake according to medical guidelines. A healthy balanced diet is also important to prevent nutritional deficiencies in food.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common cause of chronic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes is more common in people who are overweight or obese.

Therefore, controlling body weight can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes. If you have diabetes or other medical problems that can cause peripheral neuropathy, good control of your condition can prevent neuropathy from developing.

If you have any questions, please consult your doctor. Usually, the doctor will help you to better understand your health condition, as well as find the best solution for your health.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.