Peripheral Neuropathy: Symptoms, Causes and Diagnosis

Sept. 23, 2009 - PRLog -- Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that occurs when the peripheral nervous system becomes damaged by disease, trauma or toxins.  The condition can result in a person being unable to detect heat, cold and pain.  There is often numbness or tingling in the hands or the feet. If the motor nerves are affected, a person may find that he is particularly weak or even paralyzed in one of his limbs.  
Peripheral neuropathy is commonly associated with diabetes, but other diseases are known to cause the condition as well.  Damage to the peripheral nervous system can occur after shingles.  It can also result from vitamin deficiency (particularly vitamin B12), exposure to toxins such as pesticides and lead as well as overuse of alcohol.  (People who contract peripheral neuropathy from any cause can help to treat symptoms of the disease with vitamin therapy and by cutting back on substances that are bad for your circulation and nervous system such as alcohol and cigarettes.)  Peripheral neuropathy is sometimes associated with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Guillain-Barre syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis as well as genetic disorders such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.  Damage to the peripheral nervous system can occur as a side effect of AIDS or as a side effect of an AIDS treatment.  The same is true for cancer treatment, particularly if a patient is treated with vincristine, metronidazole or isoniazid.  If the cause of peripheral neuropathy cannot be determined, the condition is referred to as idiopathic peripheral neuropathy.  
If you are diagnosed with one of the above diseases, speak with your doctor about peripheral neuropathy and how you can prevent the onset of this condition.  Often taking good care of your body is the first step.  Develop a daily health regimen that includes: a healthy diet rich in vitamins, balanced blood glucose levels, exercise, limited alcohol and no smoking.  The goal is to keep your nervous system in tip-top shape and prevent future damage.  If you experience the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (burning, numbness or tingling in your limbs, etc.) but are NOT diagnosed with any of the above conditions, see your doctor as soon as possible.  The symptoms may be the sign of a complex, systematic problem that requires full-body treatment.  
Although there is no medical treatment that can cure peripheral neuropathy, there are therapeutic treatments that can help eliminate painful symptoms.  Speak with your doctor about specific treatments that are right for you.