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Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerves are the nerves that connect your spinal cord to the rest of your body.
Many diseases and conditions can cause peripheral neuropathy. The damage may occur due to lack of oxygen, malnutrition, compression, cancer, trauma, inflammation, toxins, and medications. Diseases that can damage peripheral nerves include diabetes (type 1 or type 2), alcoholism, aids, lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, uremia from chronic kidney failure, autoimmune disorders, hypothyroidism.
Compression commonly occurs when nerves are pinched or trapped somewhere along their course. Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome (nerve in the wrist), sciatica (nerve roots forming the sciatic nerve in the back of the legs as they exit the spine).
Damage to the peripheral nerves often results in sensory (feeling) and motor (strength) symptoms in the arms, legs, hands, and feet. However, it can affect any part of the body. Symptoms vary, depending on which nerves are involved. Symptoms may range from mild to severe and may seem worse at night. Sensations and pain may occur in the upper or lower limbs and move toward the trunk (eg, from the feet to the calves). Symptoms include numbness or reduced sensation, tingling, pain, often a burning or sharp, cutting sensation, sensitivity to touch, muscle twitches, muscle weakness, muscle cramping, difficulty with walking, loss of coordination or balance, and paralysis.
Treatment may include treatment for the underlying illness or exposure, physical therapy, medications, and other therapies are aimed at reducing symptoms such as relaxation training, biofeedback, walking, exercise, yoga, warm baths, massage, acupuncture, and transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation.
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