When nerves in the hands, feet, and arms are hurt, a condition called peripheral neuropathy happens. The signs and symptoms depend on which nerves are affected.
The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord make up the peripheral nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
It is made up of different kinds of nerves, each with its own job, such as:
Sensory nerves are in charge of sending messages about things like pain and touch. Motor nerves are in charge of controlling muscles. Autonomic neurons are in charge of controlling things like blood pressure and bladder function that happen on their own.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy
Some of the most common signs of peripheral neuropathy are the following:
Tingling and numbness in the feet or hands burning, stabbing, or shooting pain in the affected areas
a loss of muscle strength and balance, especially in the feet
Most of the time, these symptoms stay the same, but they can come and go.
Treatment for peripheral neuropathy
The best way to treat peripheral neuropathy depends on both the symptoms and the cause. You can't treat all of the underlying causes of neuropathy.
For example, if you have diabetes, you may want to control your blood sugar better, stop smoking, and drink less alcohol. Traditional painkillers don't always work for nerve pain, so neuropathic pain agents are often recommended.
If you have other peripheral neuropathy symptoms, they may need to be treated on their own.
Physiotherapy and walking aids, for example, can help with muscle weakness.
Problems with peripheral neuropathy
The outlook for peripheral neuropathy depends on what caused the nerve damage and which nerves were hurt.
Some people can get better over time if the cause is treated, but in other cases, the damage may be permanent or get worse over time.
If you don't treat what's causing your peripheral neuropathy, you could end up with a serious problem, like an infected foot ulcer.
If this isn't treated, it can lead to gangrene, and in the worst cases, the foot may have to be cut off.
Peripheral neuropathy can damage the nerves that control the automatic functions of the heart and blood circulation system (cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy).
You might need medicine for your blood pressure or, in rare cases, a pacemaker.
Peripheral neuropathy comes in many different forms.
The following may be affected by peripheral neuropathy:
- Only one nerve (mononeuropathy)
- Multiple nerves (mononeuritis multiplex)
- Every nerve in the body (polyneuropathy)
Polyneuropathy is the most common type, and it usually starts in the feet because it affects the longest nerves first. It starts to affect shorter nerves, which makes it seem like it's getting higher, and eventually it gets to the hands.
Wearing Dr. Luigi medical shoes can help relieve the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and prevent it from happening.