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What is Neuropathy?
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Peripheral Neuropathy is described by WebMD as, "the conditions that result when nerves that connect to the brain and spinal cord from the rest of the body are damaged or diseased."
The peripheral nerves are what connects the brain and spinal cord to the internal organs, skin, and muscles. Peripheral nerves start at the spinal cord and are arranged along lines in the body called dermatomes. It is quite often that when a nerve is damaged, it will affect one or more dermatome. When these nerves are damaged, communication between the brain and other parts of the body are interrupted which can impair muscle movement, cause numbness in the arms and legs or worse, cause pain.
Types of Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral Neuropathy comes in many forms, each with their own cause. These injuries range from Carpal tunnel syndrome is an injury caused by repetitive use of the hands and/or wrists, such as computer use, to Guillain-Barre syndrome which is a rare, sudden paralysis.
Peripheral neuropathies are common, the condition affects 3% to 4% of Americans, with higher percentages for the elderly.
Mononeuropathy
When the damage is done to a single peripheral nerve it is called mononeuropathy. Most often this is caused by a physical injury or trauma like an auto accident. A sedentary patient, such as someone who is bed ridden or wheelchair bound for extended periods of time, has prolonged pressure on a single nerve which may trigger the mononeuropathy. In other cases a continuous, repetitive motion can also trigger their mononeuropathy. If the fibrous, shock-absorbing discs that lie between the bones in the back are damaged, they could press on a nerve and cause this type of neuropathy.
An overuse or strain injury, Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common type of mononeuropathy. This occurs when the nerve that extends through the wrist is compressed. Those who repeat their motions with the wrist extended are more likely to aquire this neuropathy.
Some examples include physical laborers, assembly-line workers, and those who use computer keyboards for prolonged periods.
The damage to the nerve can result in numbness, tingling, unusual sensations, and pain in the first three fingers on the thumb side of the hand, particularly while sleeping. In time, carpal tunnel injuries can weaken the muscles in the hand. You may also feel pain, tingling, or burning in your arm and shoulder.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is when the damage to the nerves is caused by the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes. In time, high blood sugar levels can damage nerves throughout your body.
There are three kinds of diabetic neuropathy.
- Peripheral neuropathy - These nerves sense touch, pain, and temperature, and affect movement and muscle strength. Most times it affects the nerves in the feet and lower legs.
- Autonomic neuropathy - Damage to the autonomic nerves, controlling things like your heartbeat, blood pressure, sweating, digestion, urination, and sexual function.
- Focal neuropathy affects a single nerve, most often in the wrist, thigh, or foot. It may also affect the nerves of your back and chest and those that control your eye muscles.
What causes diabetic neuropathy?
High blood sugar levels from diabetes can damage nerves throughout your body. The higher your blood sugar levels, the more likely you are to have nerve damage.
About half of all diabetics will have diabetic neuropathy eventually.
What are the symptoms?
This will greatly depend on which nerves are injured. It is common for diabetics to lose feeling in their feet. If a sore, cut or abnormality appears on the foot of someone with diabetic neuropathy, it may go unnoticed and left to fester.
When other parts of your body are affected, symptoms may include:
- Problems with digestion, such as bloating, belching, constipation, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and belly pain.
- Problems with body temperature, such as heavy sweating at night or when you eat certain foods. Some people may have reduced sweating, especially in their feet and legs.
- Problems with urination, such as finding it hard to tell when your bladder is full or finding it hard to empty your bladder completely.
- Sexual problems, such as erection problems in men and vaginal dryness in women.
- Heart and blood vessel problems, leading to poor circulation or low blood pressure. This may cause dizziness, weakness, or fainting when you stand or sit up from a reclining position.
- Trouble sensing when your blood sugar is low.
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The Orlando Neuropathy Project is a division of Integrative Health of Orlando. We are a medical facility located in Oviedo, Florida. We look forward to helping you live a more healthy, and active healthy lifestyle with personalized care, rehabilitation and effective, lasting pain relief.
Contact Us Today - (321) 244-4644
Are You An Existing Patient?
Do You Live In The Oviedo, East Orlando, UCF area?
Are You Suffering From Type II Diabetes, Dysfunctional Thyroid or Neuropathy?
Or, Have You Been Referred To Us?
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