Neuropathy - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Peter Rodrick
November 17, 2008
Neuropathy describes a condition in which a person suffers from peripheral nerve damage often associated with an underlying disease. Though not a disease itself, neuropathyneuropathyneuropathy is diagnosed in many people for whom no pre-existing cause can be determined. While less than 3% of the general population is affected, eventually 60% of diabetics will develop some degree of nerve damage.
Causes Of Neuropathy
Neuropathy may be caused by hereditary conditions, strain, and kidney disease. Methodical examination of the patient should reveal the cause. With the aid of a few blood tests, electro-diagnosis, which tests nerve conduction, and electromyography, which studies muscular and nervous function, doctors may find the cause and provide appropriate treatment.
Mononeuropathies are usually caused by pressure on a nerve just under the skin near the knee, elbow, shoulder, or wrist. Some nerves close to the surface of the body, such as the median nerve in the wrist, the ulnar nerve in the elbow, the radial nerve in the upper arm, and the peroneal nerve in the calf, are more easily injured than other nerves. The injuries result in the following mononeuropathies: carpal tunnel syndrome,ulnar nerve palsy, radial nerve palsy, and peroneal nerve palsy. For example, making the same wrist movement over and over can cause pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, causing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Immune disorder: This is where the body´s immune system attacks and damages the peripheral nerves (known as ´autoimmune disease´). Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare but serious autoimmune disease affecting these nerves.
Neuropathy Symptoms
In general, neuropathy symptoms begin with lack of sensation, prickling in the toes or fingers, and continue to extend to the feet and hands, causing burning sensation and severe pain, which is particularly acute at night time. Neuropathy pain is usually symmetrical, meaning one would have the pain on both sides of the body –on both feet and both hands, for example. Peripheral neuropathy usually develops suddenly. Symptoms include numbness, where patients feel as if they are wearing invisible gloves, acute pain, excessive sensitivity to pain, muscle weakness, loss of balance, high or low blood pressure, trouble with moving muscles, lack of sleep due to pain, and atypical sweating. The type of symptom of peripheral neuropathy depends on the nerves that are damaged, and this depends on the origin of the disease. Two causes of neuropathy are diabetes and alcoholism.
Neuropathy Treatment
Treatments associated with autonomic neuropathy are intricate, and the response to the treatments may be very slow. Sleeping with head elevated and use of elastic stockings would help when suffering from low blood pressure. Medications can be used to reduce gastric mobility, sleeping with head elevated and eating small meals at frequent intervals also helps for this. For bladder disorders manual pressure and several medicines could help.
Self-care skills: self-care skills such as meticulous foot care and careful wound treatment in people with diabetes and others who have an impaired ability to feel pain can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Stop Smoking: quitting smoking is particularly important because smoking constricts the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the peripheral nerves and can worsen neuropathic symptoms.
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Causes Of Neuropathy
Neuropathy may be caused by hereditary conditions, strain, and kidney disease. Methodical examination of the patient should reveal the cause. With the aid of a few blood tests, electro-diagnosis, which tests nerve conduction, and electromyography, which studies muscular and nervous function, doctors may find the cause and provide appropriate treatment.
Mononeuropathies are usually caused by pressure on a nerve just under the skin near the knee, elbow, shoulder, or wrist. Some nerves close to the surface of the body, such as the median nerve in the wrist, the ulnar nerve in the elbow, the radial nerve in the upper arm, and the peroneal nerve in the calf, are more easily injured than other nerves. The injuries result in the following mononeuropathies: carpal tunnel syndrome,ulnar nerve palsy, radial nerve palsy, and peroneal nerve palsy. For example, making the same wrist movement over and over can cause pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, causing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Immune disorder: This is where the body´s immune system attacks and damages the peripheral nerves (known as ´autoimmune disease´). Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare but serious autoimmune disease affecting these nerves.
Neuropathy Symptoms
In general, neuropathy symptoms begin with lack of sensation, prickling in the toes or fingers, and continue to extend to the feet and hands, causing burning sensation and severe pain, which is particularly acute at night time. Neuropathy pain is usually symmetrical, meaning one would have the pain on both sides of the body –on both feet and both hands, for example. Peripheral neuropathy usually develops suddenly. Symptoms include numbness, where patients feel as if they are wearing invisible gloves, acute pain, excessive sensitivity to pain, muscle weakness, loss of balance, high or low blood pressure, trouble with moving muscles, lack of sleep due to pain, and atypical sweating. The type of symptom of peripheral neuropathy depends on the nerves that are damaged, and this depends on the origin of the disease. Two causes of neuropathy are diabetes and alcoholism.
Neuropathy Treatment
Treatments associated with autonomic neuropathy are intricate, and the response to the treatments may be very slow. Sleeping with head elevated and use of elastic stockings would help when suffering from low blood pressure. Medications can be used to reduce gastric mobility, sleeping with head elevated and eating small meals at frequent intervals also helps for this. For bladder disorders manual pressure and several medicines could help.
Self-care skills: self-care skills such as meticulous foot care and careful wound treatment in people with diabetes and others who have an impaired ability to feel pain can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Stop Smoking: quitting smoking is particularly important because smoking constricts the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the peripheral nerves and can worsen neuropathic symptoms.
Visit Home Remedies. Also visit Breast Enhancement Products and Natural Breast Enlargement