Identifying Symptoms Of Peripheral Neuropathy

Answer 1

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition caused by damage to nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord. This damage can be caused by environmental factors such as toxins or drugs. Physical trauma may also result in peripheral neuropathy as can inflammatory diseases and nutrient deficiencies. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy differ according to the location and degree of nerve damage.

Outward Symptoms

Most individuals suffering from nerve damage display such symptoms as tremors, difficulty walking normally, hypersensitive skin, cramps and localized numbness. The inability to move muscles is quite common. This is particularly true in the extremities. Patients often cannot move their fingers or toes properly. Sometimes this loss of motor control is accompanied by the sensation of something covering the skin. Often patients report that their brain registers the sensation of the wearing of socks, a hat or gloves even when this is not the case.

Causes of These Symptoms

Physical trauma can compress nerves in the peripheral nervous system, causing a lack of communication to the brain. This is often accompanied by a sense of pain or throbbing in the area. Hyperactive nerve function resulting from electric shock, serious injury such as a puncture wound, a prolonged disruption of normal blood flow to a local area of the body and even deep cuts in the body can lead to a form of peripheral neuropathy.

Persons taking certain drugs are also more susceptible to the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. An excessive intake of vitamin B6 has also been shown to increase the chances of nerve damage or nerve inflammation. A number of genetic diseases also lead to a greater likelihood of certain dysfunctions in the nervous system.

Diagnosing Symptoms

Doctors will usually perform a complete neurological exam to test the patient's reaction to certain stimuli. Loss of motor control may be localized or widespread, and the physician will run tests to determine the extent of the condition. The absence of normal reflex motion is examined in detail. Patients with specific nerve damage often will not be able to react to topical stimulations. Ankle or knee reflex motions are noticeably absent in patients with extensive nerve dysfunction.

Patients will also be examined for signs of hypersensitive skin. If the extent of the damage is severe most patients will experience unusual reactions to heat, cold, touching of the skin or contact with certain fabrics and chemicals. The treatment prescribed will depend on the cause of the condition and whether it is localized or widespread.