Early Symptoms and Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

If you’ve been telling yourself that you’re experiencing numbness in your limbs or pain in your hands due to weakness, it’s probably not the best idea to ignore these symptoms. These are symptoms of a larger problem, which can grow to affect other parts of the body, if not treated.

Peripheral neuropathy occurs as a result of nerve damage in the spinal region and outside the brain. This is why your hands and feet might be going numb! So before ignoring these pains next time they happen or instead of self-medicating yourself, go through this blog and get yourself checked.

What is the Peripheral Nervous System?

This system is responsible for sending and receiving information that’s being exchanged between the central nervous system—the brain and the spinal cord—and the rest of the body.

The peripheral nerves are the reason your body is able to register sensory information. Any damage to these nerves can cause sensations such as numbness or pain. Peripheral neuropathy is the term given to the situation resulting from damage sustained by the nerves.

Among other causes, traumatic accidents and injuries, metabolic ailments, genetic predisposition, infections and intoxication are a few leading ones. Another major cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes.

Symptoms

Individuals who suffer from peripheral neuropathy report feeling stabbing sensations or tingling numbness in different parts of their bodies. Even though medication can help to dull the sensory experience of the symptoms, they can’t cure the pain or discomfort completely.

Here are some common signs of peripheral neuropathy:

• Momentary paralysis
• Sensitivity to touch
• Stabbing or burning sensations
• Prickling in the lower body, spreading upwards
• Loss of coordination or muscle control, leading to falls
• Pain during normal activities, such as lying down or standing.

The general symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can be divided according to the type of nerves being affected. Here are some classifications of nerves and symptoms that each generates:

• Motor nerves: These nerves control physical movements with the help of muscles.
• Sensory nerves: These nerves are in charge of registering a change in temperature, pain, physical contact, and vibration.
• Autonomic nerves: These nerves drive the autonomic functions of the body such as heart rate, bladder control and movement, digestion and blood pressure.

Complications

If not reported and handled during the early stage, peripheral neuropathy can take a turn for the worst. There can be unimaginable complications that are best prevented with medical help than treated.

Here are some conditions to be wary of:

• Burns or skin trauma: Your body might lose the ability to feel temperature changes such as hot or cold, or pain in parts that have gone permanently numb.
• Falls: Complete loss of muscle control in case of motor-nerve damage can lead to unpredictable falls and limited mobility.
• Infection: Without the ability to register pain, wounds on your body can go unnoticed. This can cause infections that can further aggravate the situation if you’re a diabetic patient.

Don’t delay treatment and book an appointment right away right here. Our pain therapy centers in New York City offer treatments for painful conditions. Make sure to avail our medical services before your condition gets worse!  Get in contact Pain management doctors Hackensack NJ or NY.