Neuropathy is a catch-all term that refers to any condition that affects your peripheral nerves, meaning the nerves outside of your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Because it can develop as a result of many conditions, neuropathy is common, occurring in nearly 3% of the global population. Speak with a neurology expert at Bayhealth about neuropathy.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of neuropathy vary depending on how the condition developed, as well as the type of nerves affected—sensory, motor or autonomic nerves. Each of these nerve types serves its own function in your body, which means it reacts to neuropathy in unique ways.
Common motor symptoms include the following:
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle paralysis
- Muscle atrophy
- Uncontrollable movements
Common sensory symptoms include the following:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Imbalance
- Pain
Common autonomic symptoms include the following:
- Irregular sweating
- Irregular blood pressure
- Bladder and bowel issues
- Sexual dysfunction
- Blurry vision
While neuropathy can develop anywhere in your peripheral nervous system, symptoms are often felt around the hands, feet, arms and legs.
Risk Factors
While exact causes of neuropathy aren’t always clear, some factors may increase the risk of developing the condition at some point in your life. Those risk factors include the following:
- Autoimmune Disease: Several autoimmune diseases increase the risk of neuropathy, including Guillain-Barre syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and vasculitis.
- Diabetes: The most common cause of neuropathy, type 2 diabetes leads to nerve damage if not properly managed.
- Traumatic Injury: Damage that occurs directly to nerves—such as from an accident or surgical procedure—may result in neuropathy around the affected area.
- Prior Illness: Various viruses and bacterial infections heighten your risk for developing neuropathy, including HIV, Lyme disease and shingles.
- Family History: Some genetic conditions inherited from your parents may increase the risk for developing neuropathy, including amyloidosis.
- Tumors: Whether malignant or benign, the development of a tumor can interfere with your peripheral nervous system and heighten your risk for neuropathy.
- Alcohol Abuse: Excessively consuming alcohol over a period of years increases your risk of developing many conditions, including neuropathy.
- Medical Treatments: Drug therapies such chemotherapy, as well as some antibiotics that treat arrhythmia and gout, can heighten your risk of developing neuropathy.
- Vitamin Deficiency: Lacking certain vitamins (B1, B6, B9, B12, and E) over an extended period of time can lead to nerve damage.
How We Diagnose Neuropathy
Our experts use the following procedures to diagnose neuropathy.
- Blood Work: A blood test may reveal signs of neuropathy as well as rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of a magnetic field and radio waves creates three-dimensional images of specific areas of your body.
- Computerized Tomography (CT): Certified experts use computer-processed X-rays to generate a scan of your body in “slices” to create highly accurate images.
- Nerve Biopsy: A sample of tissue is extracted from the affected area to be examined in a pathology lab for signs of neuropathy.
- Electromyography (EMG): Electrode patches attached to your skin are used to evaluate the function of your muscles and nerves.
Treatment Options
Treatment for neuropathy varies depending on how the condition developed—meaning what caused it and where on your body it’s occurring. When outlining your treatment plan, our neurology experts also consider your medical history and preferences.
- Physical Therapy: Depending on how neuropathy has affected your body, our experts may suggest physical rehab. Such treatments can restore your bodily functions by addressing issues around mobility and muscle weakness.
- Medications: An array of medications could be prescribed to target specific symptoms caused by neuropathy. Since each patient experiences the condition differently, your drug regimen depends on your symptoms, as well as your age and medical history.
- Surgery: Depending on how neuropathy affects your body, our experts may perform surgery to repair or remove the malfunctioning nerves.
For cases of neuropathy with physical symptoms that affect how you move, our experts may prescribe assistive walking devices such as canes or walkers. Schedule an appointment to speak with a neurologist, or learn more about neurological conditions treated at Bayhealth.