Neuropathy Specialist

What is peripheral neuropathy?

In the simplest of terms, neuropathy refers to damage to your peripheral nerves, a condition that affects around 20 million people in the United States. There are several types of neuropathy, but the two primary types are:

• Mononeuropathy — damage to a single nerve
• Polyneuropathy — nerve damage in an area of nerves

Whether you’re dealing with one nerve or an area of nerves, the neuropathy causes problems in the lines of communication with your brain, which can affect function, sensation, and autonomic function (those functions that you don’t consciously control, like breathing).

What are the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?

Because there are different types of nerves, symptoms of neuropathy vary depending upon which nerves are damaged. That said, the most common forms of neuropathy include the sensory nerves, and you may experience:

• Pain, which is often a burning sensation
• Cramping
• Numbness and tingling
• Muscle weakness or twitching
• Changes in your skin, hair, and nails
• Loss of balance
• Extreme sensitivity, especially to temperature and touch

If your autonomic nerves are affected, it can have an impact on your function and lead to bladder issues or altered sweating, as two examples.

What causes peripheral neuropathy?

There are many different causes of neuropathy, but most cases are usually the result of:

• Diabetes (diabetic neuropathy of your feet)
• Trauma
• Autoimmune diseases
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Leprosy
• Certain medications, such as chemotherapy
• Infections
• Toxins

The list goes on, but these should give you a general idea of just how many forces can lead to neuropathy. No matter how you arrived at your neuropathy, the good news is that there are effective solutions.