How Do You Know If You Have Neuropathy?

Today's post from neuropathytreatment.co (see link below) is another one providing basic information for people experiencing nerve problems for the first time. It's short and to the point but sums up the symptoms and problems very well. Useful also for friends or relatives who may not understand what's happening to you.

Tingling, Burning, Numbness in Your Feet, Could It Be Peripheral Neuropathy?
MAY 1, 2013 BY WESLEY MILNE

Recognizing your symptoms

For those who are undergoing the perpetual trauma of feeling tingling, burning, and numbness in the feet must realize that this condition is not a disease but the symptoms of a very vexing and prevalent condition known as peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage or after a subsequent period. Majority of peripheral neuropathy sufferers spend years searching for the most superlative treatment plan and seeking the best diagnostics. But most of the doctors order a list of tests with various treatment plans only to have their patient seek elsewhere for better pain relief methods. Peripheral neuropathy is not just a disease. It is a chronic nerve disorder which is extremely challenging to combat and to live life with. The feeling of pins and needles while walking and the creepy numbness that seems to crawl up your limbs and render your legs devoid of sensations is an unpleasant reality. Even the most advanced techniques and treatment plans are accepting defeat to this notorious monster.

What exactly is peripheral neuropathy?

Our body’s mechanism relies on two main important systems: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system houses the brain and the spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system consists of the peripheral nerves interlining the entire body. The peripheral nervous system again branches into two main functional classifications: somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system consists of the sensory nerves which send signals to the brain and the spinal cord and the motor nerves which send signals to the muscle nerve fibers. The autonomic nervous system is taxed with the function of sending signals to the muscles of the organs and glands, and controlling our involuntary but most prominent body functions such as digestion, breathing, circulation, excretion, sexual function, etc.

Individuals who are at risk of peripheral neuropathy are:

Cancer patients and those who are undergoing chemotherapy
People who are exposed to toxins and metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic
People who are suffering from malnutrition or nutritional disorders
HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C sufferers
Diabetics
Alcoholics
Autoimmune disease patients
People with inherited neuropathy like Charcot-Marie tooth disease
People who have had shingles
Patients with tumors are also likely to suffer from peripheral neuropathy

What are the main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?

Apart from burning, tingling, and numbness in the feet and hands, peripheral neuropathy adversely affects other functions too. Mild to moderate and excruciating pain is experienced in the hands and feet depending on the amount of nerve damage. Some people even suffer from sharp pins and needles like sensations which can make walking impossible.

Loss of sensitivity is also quite common in peripheral neuropathy. Increased sensitivity is also a highlighting symptom that can cause discomfort and irritation from someone’s touch, sharp objects, and even the clothes on the body can feel like parched paper. Uneasiness can cause sleeplessness at night and increased fatigue and depression.

If the autonomic nerves have received damage, the patient will feel a general anxiety and serious symptoms will follow such as constipation, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, sexual disorders, high blood pressure, extreme panting even with light exercise, high blood pressure even while at rest, etc.

If the motor nerves are the ones that have received injury, then the patient will be suffering from muscle cramps and weakness, have trouble keeping a firm grasp on things, and have decreased flexibility and coordination.

How do the peripheral nerves receive damage or injury?

Growing scientific research has shed some light in to the growing concern of nerve damage. One contemplated research brought forth the theory of anoxia. Anoxia means oxygen deprivation. When the nerve cells are deprived of their required levels of oxygen, they contract in order to consume less oxygen. This increases the gap between the cells (the cells are naturally a little distance apart from each other) and when nerve impulses or signals are passing through, they cannot cross the bigger void and the nerve messages are lost. This causes nerve malfunction and ultimately leads to peripheral neuropathy.

During an infection, disease or over exposure to dangerous chemicals, the body is consumed with free radicals. These free radicals tend to take up all the oxygen, thus depriving the nerve cells of their nutrition.

Why is peripheral neuropathy pain untreatable?

Peripheral neuropathy can be considerably treated with over the counter and prescription medications, but the pain cannot be treated permanently. The nature of the neuropathy pain renders it as an untreatable disease. There has not been ample research guided in this field which despairs the sufferers of neuropathy. Though the pain can be relieved temporarily with lidocaine patch and opioids, much advancement needs to be made to conquer the peripheral neuropathy pain and restore life and happiness back in to the lives of the neuropathy sufferers.

http://neuropathytreatment.co/tingling-burning-numbness-in-your-feet-could-it-be-peripheral-neuropathy/