Neuropathy is a medical condition that occurs when nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves) are affected and damaged. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by injuries from trauma and accidents, bacterial or viral infections, metabolic diseases, genetic differences and exposure to toxins. A common cause is diabetes, which is more difficult to manage than others.
This disease, which sometimes occurs without any cause, can be seen in people of any age group. The treatment of the disease is planned and performed by specialist doctors depending on the underlying causes.
What Causes Peripheral Neuropathy?
Many different problems can be among the causes of neuropathy. These can be listed as follows:
Diabetes: It is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Approximately more than half of people with diabetes are likely to develop neuropathy.
Vitamin Deficiency: Problems such as forgetfulness and dementia can occur due to a lack of B group vitamins in the body. There may also be peripheral neuropathy of the sensory nerves and damage to the spinal cord.
Infections: Various viral or bacterial infections such as shingles, Lyme disease, CMV and EBV can cause peripheral neuropathy.
In addition to these, other conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathy include
- Some medications
- Genetic factors
- Tumors
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Connective tissue disorder
What are the Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy?
Each nerve in the peripheral system has a specific function. Therefore, the symptoms depend on the type of nerves affected. The symptoms of neuropathy can vary from person to person. While different types of nerves can be affected at the same time, the symptoms may vary depending on the type of nerve affected. Nerves can be classified as motor nerves, autonomic nerves and sensory nerves.
The signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are as follows:
- Numbness, tingling and loss of sensation in the hands and/or feet
- Loss of strength in the hands and feet and gait disturbance
- Muscle wasting in the affected area, delayed healing of wounds, loss of arm or leg hair, deformity of the hands and feet, nail breakage
- Muscle weakness, difficulty moving, drop foot, paralysis
- Loss of muscle control and uncontrolled work
- Loss of balance and clumsiness
What are the Risk Factors for Peripheral Neuropathy?
The conditions that are among the risk factors for peripheral neuropathy can be listed as follows:
- Diabetes (Diabetes)
- Excessive alcohol use
- Family history of neuropathy, genetic predisposition
- Vitamin deficiencies and especially deficiency of B group vitamins in the body
- Various infections
- Autoimmune diseases
- Kidney diseases
- Liver Failure
How is Peripheral Neuropathy Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of neuropathy is based on examinations and evaluations by a specialist doctor. The diagnostic phase is a combination of several methods and can be listed as follows
- Symptoms, complaints and medical history,
- Physical and neurological examination,
- Imaging techniques and laboratory tests
In addition, the most common tests and imaging methods used in the diagnostic phase are
- Blood tests
- Electromyogram (EMG)
- Nerve ultrasound
- Nerve biopsy
- Genetic tests
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
How is peripheral neuropathy treated?
Neuropathy treatment is planned and performed by a specialist doctor depending on the underlying causes. Considering the patient's medical history and the diseases the patient has, an appropriate treatment plan is made for the person. Treatment methods are as follows:
- Drug therapy
- Physical therapy
- Surgical intervention (Surgery)
- Foot care and hygiene
- Different pain treatments such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or injections