Peripheral Neuropathy

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Peripheral Neuropathy is a disorder that occurs when nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (the peripheral nerves) are damaged. These nerves carry messages between the brain/spinal cord and the rest of the body (like arms, legs, organs, and skin). Damage can disrupt these signals and cause pain, numbness, weakness, or dysfunction.

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🧠 WHAT DOES PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AFFECT?

• Sensory nerves – Affect sensation (pain, temperature, touch)

• Motor nerves – Control movement and muscles

• Autonomic nerves – Regulate internal functions (heart rate, digestion)

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📊 COMMON TYPES

Type	Affected Nerves	Example Conditions
Mononeuropathy	Single nerve	Carpal tunnel syndrome
Polyneuropathy	Many nerves, usually symmetrically	Diabetic neuropathy, Guillain-Barré
Autonomic neuropathy	Involves internal organ function	Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease
Cranial neuropathy	Affects cranial nerves	Bell’s palsy (facial nerve)

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🔍 SYMPTOMS

Symptom	Description
Tingling or numbness	Often in hands and feet (“glove and stocking” pattern)
Burning or stabbing pain	Especially at night
Muscle weakness	Dropping objects, trouble walking
Loss of coordination	Difficulty with balance
Heat intolerance or sweating issues	Due to autonomic nerve damage
Digestive problems	Nausea, constipation, diarrhea
Bladder dysfunction	Incontinence or retention

Symptoms depend on which nerves are affected and can be temporary or permanent.

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🧪 CAUSES

Category	Examples
Diabetes	Most common cause (especially with poor blood sugar control)
Infections	Shingles, Lyme disease, HIV, Hepatitis B/C
Autoimmune diseases	Lupus, RA, Guillain-Barré, CIDP
Vitamin deficiencies	B12, B6, E
Alcohol abuse	Chronic intake damages nerves
Toxins/medications	Chemotherapy drugs, heavy metals
Inherited conditions	Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Trauma or pressure	Injury, repetitive stress, slipped disc

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🧬 DIAGNOSIS

Test	Purpose
Neurological exam	Reflexes, sensation, muscle strength
Nerve conduction studies (NCS)	Measures electrical signals in nerves
Electromyography (EMG)	Assesses muscle response
Blood tests	Rule out diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune disease
MRI/CT	Check for structural causes (e.g., herniated disc)
Skin or nerve biopsy	Rarely, for small fiber neuropathy diagnosis

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💊 TREATMENTS

Treat the underlying cause first, then manage symptoms. Early intervention prevents progression.

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🔹 1. Treat Underlying Condition

Cause	Treatment
Diabetes	Blood sugar control
Vitamin deficiency	Supplements (e.g., B12)
Autoimmune disease	Immunotherapy, steroids
Infections	Antivirals, antibiotics
Toxins/meds	Discontinue exposure

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🔹 2. Pain Management

Medication	Use
Anticonvulsants	Gabapentin, pregabalin – nerve pain
Antidepressants	Amitriptyline, duloxetine – chronic pain
Topical treatments	Capsaicin cream, lidocaine patches
NSAIDs	For inflammatory causes
Opioids	Avoided long-term due to dependency risk

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🔹 3. Therapies and Support

Therapy	Benefit
Physical therapy	Strength, balance, mobility
Occupational therapy	Adapt tools for daily life
Orthotics/braces	For foot drop or weak limbs
TENS therapy	Electrical stimulation for pain relief

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🔹 4. Lifestyle Management

• Healthy diet (rich in B vitamins and antioxidants)

• Limit alcohol

• Stop smoking

• Gentle exercise to maintain nerve health

• Protect feet and hands from injuries or burns (especially in diabetic neuropathy)

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🧭 PROGNOSIS

• Depends on cause, severity, and treatment timing.

• Some neuropathies are reversible, others are chronic but manageable.

• Untreated, peripheral neuropathy can lead to permanent disability, infections, or amputations (in diabetics).