Neuropathy, also known as nerve damage, can be caused by several medical issues and therapies such as diabetes and treatment like chemotherapy. Neuropathy, also called peripheral neuropathy, is a catchall word used to describe various conditions involving damage to the peripheral nerves and the symptoms of such damage. While there is no cure for this group of symptoms, diet, lifestyle, and medical adjustments can help you avoid or cope with neuropathy.
Signs and Symptoms of Neuropathy
The Mayo Clinic and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) agree that the specific manifestations of neuropathy vary from person to person and depend on the underlying cause:
- The loss of sensation, either temporarily or permanently
- Prickling, tingling, or burning feeling
- Increased sensitivity to physical pain
- Weakness or withering away of the muscles
- Paralysis
- Dysfunction in the internal organs or glands
- Limitations on one's ability to urinate and have sexual relations
Knowing how neuropathy manifests itself in the body will help to know that the nervous system is made up of two divided but interconnected systems. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system, while the peripheral nervous system relays information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.
The autonomic nervous system regulates processes we can't consciously direct, including heartbeat, breathing, and digestion. In contrast, the somatic nervous system controls all the functions we are aware of and can consciously control, such as moving limbs.
Neuropathy can result from injury or disturbance to the voluntary or involuntary peripheral nerves. According to the Mayo Clinic, sensory and motor nerves might be affected.
Types of Neuropathy
The area of nerve injury is the primary determinant of the type of neuropathy you get. The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has defined three types of it:
- Mononeuropathy: Mononeuropathy is a type of neuropathy in which just one nerve is affected.
- Polyneuropathy: In cases where numerous nerves are damaged, this medical condition is known as polyneuropathy. Whether autonomic, sensory, or motor nerves are affected, or all three, is based on the symptoms. Injury to an autonomic nerve can cause problems with body processes, blood pressure, and even the digestive system.
If your sensory nerves are damaged, you might have trouble feeling things or keeping your equilibrium, while if your motor nerves are damaged, you might have trouble moving or reacting. According to the U.S National Library of Medicine’s Medline Plus website, when sensory and motor neurons are affected, the resulting damage to nerve cells, fibers (axons), and coverings (myelin sheaths) are referred to as sensorimotor polyneuropathy.
Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy: Polyneuropathy is symmetric at the distal ends. According to the American Diabetes Association, this form of polyneuropathy affects a large percentage of patients with diabetes. Symptoms such as pain and numbness start at the feet and work their way up the legs in this type of polyneuropathy because the first nerve fibers to malfunction are the ones farthest from the central nervous system. Upper-body involvement is also possible eventually.
Duration of Neuropathy
Neuropathy can be a chronic condition; in some cases, it may never go away. When it comes to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, however, the nerve damage is sometimes only transient. An analysis of research published in Pain found that roughly 66.7% of people who undergo chemotherapy will develop neuropathy within a month. The percentage drops to 30% at the 6-month mark.
Neuropathy can be a chronic condition; in some cases, it may never go away. When it comes to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, however, the nerve damage is sometimes only transient. An analysis of research published in Pain found that roughly 66.7% of people who undergo chemotherapy will develop neuropathy within a month. The percentage drops to 30% at the 6-month mark.
How Can You Prevent Neuropathy?
You can treat underlying causes of neuropathy, such as diabetes, celiac disease, and dietary deficiencies such as not getting enough vitamin B12 by making changes to your diet, as the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy notes.
You can prevent diabetic neuropathy, or its progression can be slowed by regular exercise. In addition, it can assist restore muscle mass lost to motor neuron diseases, as reported by MedlinePlus.
However, some forms of neuropathy, like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, run in families and can't be avoided. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reported that about 126,000 Americans suffer from this illness, which leads to muscle weakening and atrophy.