How does neuropathy occur

Peripheral neuropathy means these nerves don't work properly. Peripheral neuropathy may occur because of damage to a single nerve or a group of nerves. It may also affect nerves in the whole body. Neuropathy is very common. There are many types and causes. Often, no cause can be found. Some nerve diseases run in families.

Diabetes is the most common cause of this type of nerve problem. High blood sugar levels over a long time can damage your nerves.

Symptoms depend on which nerve is damaged, and whether the damage affects one nerve, several nerves, or the whole body. Tingling or burning in the arms and legs may be an early sign of nerve damage. These feelings often start in your toes and feet.

You may have deep pain. This often happens in the feet and legs. You may lose feeling in your legs and arms. Because of this, you may not notice when you step on something sharp. You may not notice when you touch something that is too hot or cold, like the water in a bathtub. You may not know when you have a small blister or sore on your feet.

Damage to the nerves can make it harder to control muscles. It can also cause weakness. You may notice problems moving a part of your body. You may fall because your legs buckle. You may trip over your toes. Doing tasks such as buttoning a shirt may be harder. You may also notice that your muscles twitch or cramp. Your muscles may become smaller.

People with nerve damage may have problems digesting food. You may feel full or bloated and have heartburn after eating only a little food. Sometimes, you may vomit food that has not been digested well.

You may have either loose stools or hard stools. Some people have problems swallowing. Damage to the nerves to your heart may cause you to feel lightheaded, or faint, when you stand up. Accessed April 3, Brown AY. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy causes. Accessed March 26, Neurological examinations. Goldman L, et al. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine.

Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed March 27, Peripheral neuropathy treatments. Peripheral neuropathy adult. Treatment for the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy focuses on treating the underlying disorder. If diabetes is the cause, the focus is on blood sugar control. If a vitamin deficiency is causing the problem, then correcting the deficiency is the treatment. Many treatments can bring relief and help you return to your regular activities.

Sometimes a combination of treatments works best. Over-the-counter OTC oral pain medications like acetaminophen Tylenol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can be very helpful in controlling moderate pain. If you take them in excess, these drugs can affect your liver or stomach function. The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy includes a list of additional topical OTC medications you may consider trying.

They include:. Many prescription pain medications can also help to control the pain of this condition. These include narcotics, some antiepileptic medications, and some antidepressants.

Other helpful prescription medications include:. Prescription drugs for sexual dysfunction in men due to nerve damage include phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors PDE5Is like:. Your doctor can use several medical treatments to control the symptoms of this condition.

Plasmapheresis is a blood transfusion that removes potentially irritating antibodies from your bloodstream. During TENS, electrodes placed on the skin send small amounts of electricity into the skin. The goal of this treatment is to disrupt nerves from transmitting pain signals to the brain. Ergonomic casts or splints can help you if your neuropathy affects your muscles. Splints can help with:. This can relieve pain. For example, a cast or splint that holds your wrists in a proper position while you sleep can relieve the discomfort of carpal tunnel syndrome.

In addition to OTC pain relievers, many people have found relief for peripheral neuropathy through:. If you drink alcohol or smoke, consider cutting back or stopping. Both alcohol and tobacco aggravate nerve pain and can cause nerve damage when used for long periods. You can do the following to improve your safety:.

If your neuropathy is due to an underlying, treatable condition, you may be able to stop your peripheral neuropathy by treating the larger problem. Speak with your doctor to determine the best medical treatment for you, and explore complementary and self-care options that can supplement your medical care.

You can take steps to prevent peripheral neuropathy and lower your risk by:. Eating healthy to prevent vitamin deficiency and support vascular health is of particular importance. But you can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with consistent blood sugar management and a healthy lifestyle. There are four main types of diabetic neuropathy. You can have one type or more than one type of neuropathy. Your symptoms will depend on the type you have and which nerves are affected.

Usually, symptoms develop gradually. You may not notice anything is wrong until considerable nerve damage has occurred. This type of neuropathy may also be called distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy. It's the most common type of diabetic neuropathy.

It affects the feet and legs first, followed by the hands and arms. Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are often worse at night, and may include:. The autonomic nervous system controls your heart, bladder, stomach, intestines, sex organs and eyes.

Diabetes can affect nerves in any of these areas, possibly causing:. This type of neuropathy — also called diabetic amyotrophy — often affects nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks or legs. It can also affect the abdominal and chest area. Symptoms are usually on one side of the body, but may spread to the other side. You may have:. There are two types of mononeuropathy — cranial and peripheral.