Overview

There are different yet scientific causes of peripheral neuropathy. If the patient underwent a severe traumatic event or injury, metabolic illnesses, severe infections, genetic or family history of certain diseases, and toxin exposure among the few. If you have diabetes or an account, it has a higher risk of acquiring a particular illness as well. 

The peripheral nervous mechanism will send these signals coming from your spinal cord and brain to your whole body. Sensory information is sent by the peripheral nerves directly to your spinal cord or the central nervous mechanism. 

Most people that have peripheral neuropathy will demonstrate that pain would likely be stinging to burning, sharp stabbing pain, and tingly sensations. The majority of occurrences, on the contrary, have better results after treatment and medications for pneumonitis. Improve outcomes that are caused by treatable conditions pneumonitis and pain management through drugs. 

Causes Of Nerve Problem

There is a myriad of reasons that may affect an individual to have peripheral neuropathy. There is no single illness that causes such medical conditions. However, there are a few health conditions that can lead to the development of peripheral neuropathy. 

• Genetic disorders. Certain hereditary illnesses may cause an individual to develop peripheral neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, to be specific, can be one of the high-risk causes.
• Diabetes. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing peripheral neuropathy.
• Autoimmune illnesses. Diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, vasculitis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, to name a few. 
• Tumors that are malignant and benign. These include cancerous or the malignant ones, and noncancerous, which are harmless, may have developing stages when the press nerves or your nerves alone. One thing you have to remember about polyneuropathy may be a result of the body’s response to cancer treatment and development. This immune response is what we call paraneoplastic syndrome. 
• Infections. Bacterial or viral infections such as HIV, leprosy, Hepa B and C, diphtheria, Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, and shingles, to name a few.
• Illnesses related to bone marrow. Different bone marrow illnesses such as lymphoma, myeloma or bone cancer, and rare conditions such as amyloidosis. 
• Other medical conditions. Illnesses such as liver, kidney, connective tissue illnesses, and hypothyroidism, or an inactive thyroid. 

Some studies are a setback to your lifestyle, which later on can lead to neuropathy. 

• Certain Vitamin deficiencies. If your body doesn’t have enough supply of vitamin E, niacin, and other B vitamins such as B-1, 6, and 12 to be exact. 
• Toxic exposure. If you are exposed to hazardous substances and chemicals that may affect your health, such as mercury, lead, and other toxic industrial chemicals. 
• Alcohol dependency. Vitamin deficiency can also be a significant cause of poor diet due to alcohol dependency, which later on can develop certain illnesses. 
• Trauma or phobia. If you’ve had any severe or serious vehicular accidents that caused you to have cast, crutches, or injuries due to sports, which significantly damaged your nerves, the pressure from your nerve due to multiple motion routines like typing for a more extended time may damage your nerves over time too. 
• Medications. Only a few categories, such as those medications related to cancer treatment or chemotherapy, may damage your nerves over time. 
• However, there are no cases that can truly identify the direct cause of this illness. 

Diagnosis And Treatment

There are a variety of causes when it comes to peripheral neuropathy. You can diagnose the cause through physical tests, which include blood exams, reviewed medical history, and neurological examinations. 

Your physician will examine your muscle tone and strength. The tendon reflexes and how you respond to some sensations, together with physical coordination and posture, are among the exams for neurological diagnosis. 

When it comes to reviewing your medical history, your physician will check common symptoms, toxin exposure, lifestyle, alcohol intake, and possible hereditary cases present in your bloodline. 

Test 

The traditional test will enable your doctor to trace neuropathy by

• Image test. MRI and CT scans allow them to find herniated disks, abnormalities, and tumors.
• Blood exams. There are a variety of ways to detect illnesses with a tube of blood: Vitamin deficiencies, regular immune system functions, diabetes, and other indications, which can cause peripheral neuropathy. 
• Nerve function exams. Advanced technology, such as EMG or electromyography, enables muscle nerve abnormalities. The electrode or thin needle will measure the electrical activity into your muscles when contract. 

Your physician or EMG specialist will also conduct nerve tests. This will be done by placing flat electrodes on your skin. The low current of electricity will stimulate nerves. This process will be recorded by your doctor to check the nerves’ responses to electric current.

Skin biopsy, nerve biopsy, and other tests for your nerves will be done. Examinations for your sweat, reflex screen, and other sensory exams will further be done on how your body responds to these numbers of nerve tests. 

Treatment

The main goal for treatment is to help reduce and manage neuropathy. If you have negative results from your laboratory exams, your doctor may still monitor possible neuropathy developments over time. 

Therapy

There are a variety of procedures and therapies that enable the patient to alleviate symptoms or signs of peripheral Neurotherapy. 

• Physical therapy enables you to strengthen your muscles. Improve movements, braces, walker, cane, or wheelchair for support may be needed.
• Plasma exchange is the method of cleansing your blood from antibodies and putting it back to you after the process. Immunoglobulins in the process of receiving antibodies through higher protein levels.
• You may undergo surgery if the cause of your neuropathy is nerve pressure. This can either remove the tumor or lessen the stress present to your nerves.
• TENS is the low level of electric current through electrodes placed into your skin. You can do this process 30 minutes a day for a whole month. 

Medications

Medications not only cured neuropathy, but it also manages possible symptoms and signs from developing. 

Antidepressants have significant benefits when it comes to managing pain as it interferes with the process, which helps control the feeling of pain. Drugs such as Pamelor (nortriptyline), Zonalon, Silenor (doxepin), and amitriptyline, to name a few tricyclic antidepressants.

Over the counter and anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal medications helps manage mild symptoms. Otherwise, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of painkillers. 

• A higher dose of painkillers is only prescribed when needed, as they can cause addiction and dependency. Those that contain opioids like tramadol (Ultram and Conzip) and drugs containing oxycodone like Roxicodone and Oxycontin, to name a few. 
• Topical creams may contain ingredients usually found in red peppers. This helps manage peripheral neuropathy signs or symptoms. The burning sensation may, at times, lead to irritation. However, this will be manageable over time. 
• Medications for anti-seizure helps manage nerve pain. One of the known setbacks for these types of drugs includes dizziness and drowsiness. 

Lidocaine patches can be an alternative in managing nerve pain. Common side effects include numbness, dizziness, and drowsiness.

If peripheral neuropathy is the effect of diabetes, you can check with your doctor norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor duloxetine, serotonin, and venlafaxine. Though antidepressants can alleviate peripheral neuropathy, there are also known setbacks to these medications, such as decreased appetite, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, and cause dry mouth.

Nerve Problem Normal Conditions

Whether you have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy or have a family history of the illness, lifestyle, and routine are important factors that may reduce or put your health at risk. 

A healthy lifestyle, no matter how hard we may think of, is all about routine and proper mindset. It can start with a daily habit that can develop into a method and transform your lifestyle. 

Exercising, choosing to eat healthily, and prevention are the essential secret of managing this specific condition. Include fruits and vegetables into your daily meal. Be mindful of what you eat. Food rich in protein improves nerve health, together with other healthy foods rich in nutritious stuff. 

Exercising doesn’t mean you’ll have to sweat in the gym every day. You can set a specific time in the day to walk or do something that involves physical interaction.

Avoid adding pressure to your nerves. This includes checking posture, muscle movement, and repetitive motions. Prevent toxin exposure and other chemicals that are harmful to your health.

Risk Of Having Nerve Problem

There are essential factors that contribute to the development of peripheral neuropathy;

• Unhealthy lifestyle. Food intake and limited physical movement.
• Toxins exposure
• Repetitive motions
• Infections
• Autoimmune illnesses
• Hereditary disease
• Vitamin deficiency (B Vitamins)
• Organ disorder

Complications

Common complications for most nerve problems include the following.

• Infections which reduce sensation to your body parts.
• Skin trauma and skin burns.
• Lack of physical balance.

When To Seek Medical Attention

Don’t hesitate to seek medical help immediately if you seem to have unusual pain, weakness, numb, blind or tingling in your feet and hands. The best way to prevent and treat peripheral neuropathy is by controlling the symptoms and being knowledgeable about the signs. 

Table of Medications

• gabapentin
• duloxetine
• levocarnitine
• carbamazepine
• L-Carnitine
• pregabalin
• capsaicin
• Qutenza
• phenytoin
• Carnitor