Complaints such as cramps, tremors and burning in the hands and feet, especially at night, can be caused by polyneuropathy syndrome caused by a problem in the nerve fibers. Polyneuropathy is a disease that increases in frequency with advancing age and occurs as a result of damage to many peripheral nerves for various reasons. When diagnosed early, the progression of the damage to the nerves can be stopped and easily controlled by preventing the peripheral nerves from being damaged and transmitting the usual signals to the brain.
Polyneuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy, is a condition in which various peripheral nerves are damaged. These nerves transmit information between the central nervous system and other parts of the body. Nerves other than the spinal cord and brain are categorized as peripheral nerves. In polyneuropathy, multiple peripheral nerves are affected simultaneously. Polyneuropathy is caused by diabetes, cancer and some autoimmune disorders.
What Causes Polyneuropathy?
The commonly known cause of polyneuropathy is diabetes. In addition, hypothyroidism, alcohol use, drugs used for chemotherapy, cancer diseases, infection, liver or kidney failure, vitamin B1, B12 deprivation and heavy metal poisoning can be the causes.
What are the Types of Neuropathy?
There are two main types of neuropathy. These are peripheral neuropathy and central nervous system (CNS) neuropathy. peripheral neuropathy represents damage to nerves other than the brain and spinal cord. Central nervous system neuropathy, on the other hand, damages the nerves within the brain and spinal cord, which are responsible for movement, sensation and coordination. Diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, chemotherapy, vitamin deprivation and certain medications are among the most common causes of neuropathy. Less common causes include Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis.
What are the symptoms of polyneuropathy?
Symptoms of polyneuropathy vary depending on which nerves are damaged. For example; symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness of the arms or legs, coordination and balance problems, numbness are encountered. The symptoms can be similar to those of conditions such as fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis. Therefore, it is sometimes confused with these diseases. The symptoms of polyneuropathy are as follows;
- Pin prick sensation
- Tingling sensation
- Numbness and numbness in pain
- Difficulty using the feet, arms, hands and legs
- Sleep problems caused by pain
- Sensitivity to touch
- Not understanding temperature changes
- Muscle weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Nail and skin infections
- Intense sweating
- Problems in the digestive system
- Abnormalization of blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing in and out
- Eating problems
- Dizziness
How is polyneuropathy diagnosed?
Polyneuropathy is diagnosed with the complaints of the patient, physical control, laboratory examination and EMG test. EMG is an indispensable diagnostic technique in the diagnosis of polyneuropathy. In this technique, cables are connected to the arm and leg of the affected person and small electrical stimuli are given to examine whether the peripheral nerves are thick, whether the nerve sheath is damaged, and the normal state of the electrical current of the nerve. When necessary, a needle is also used during the EMG test for differential diagnosis in patients with polyneuropathy and the condition of the muscles is evaluated.
How is polyneuropathy treated?
Treatment of polyneuropathy is carried out according to the underlying causes. The most common type of polyneuropathy is diabetes. Therefore, it is very important that blood sugar is under control. In the case of diabetes, it is preferable to take painkillers and medications that can repair nerve damage, if necessary, in line with the patient's complaints. Similarly, polyneuropathy in chronic renal failure is linked to metabolic causes and toxic substances accumulating in the body. Medications to remove these substances from the body and, if necessary, dialysis can help to improve the polyneuropathy. There is no effective treatment for inherited polyneuropathies and all treatments are still in experimental stages. Here, the patient can be given appropriate physical therapy and symptomatic treatment to minimize the symptoms.