What you should know about peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral Neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that is rarely life-threatening but can lead to disabling symptoms if left untreated.
Peripheral nerves are found throughout the body and carry sensory data to
and from the central nervous system. The neuropathic condition can be mild or
severe. When it is mild, it may not manifest any symptoms, but it can affect
walking, breathing, swallowing, and talking if it is more serious,.
What Causes Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by medical conditions like:
- Diabetes (the most
common cause)
- Chronic kidney
disease
- Chronic liver
disease
- Guillain-Barre
syndrome
- Autoimmune disorders
like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Other conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathy include:
- Injuries
- Infections like
shingles, HIV infection, Lyme disease, etc.
- Excessive alcohol
intake
- Medicines used for
chemotherapy and HIV treatment
- Vitamin or mineral
deficiencies.
- Some kinds of
cancer.
How would you know if you have peripheral neuropathy?
Common signs and symptoms of neuropathy of the legs include:
- Tingling in legs
- Numb feet
- Burning or throbbing
sensation in the foot
- Extreme sensitivity
to touch
- Loss of coordination
and balance
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle twitching
- Dizziness when
standing up
Importance of foot exam for peripheral neuropathy
People who are at high risk for peripheral neuropathy or suffer from it should
see a podiatrist regularly. This is because one of the first signs of
peripheral neuropathy is foot problems as the condition affects the extremities
severely.
The podiatrist will do a foot exam that will include:
- A diabetic
examination to check the overall health of feet and to look for signs like
thickened toenails, fungal infections, etc.
- A neurological exam
to check for sensation and reflexes in toes and heels.
- A dermatological
examination to check for dry skin and scanlines.
- Vascular examination
on the back of leg and feet to make sure that blood circulation is adequate.
- A musculoskeletal
exam to check for any deformities or conditions like bunion deformities,
Charcot deformities, changes in arch height, etc.
Management of peripheral neuropathy
- Management of peripheral neuropathy usually includes:
- Medications to
relieve pain and infections
- Physiotherapy to
improve blood circulation
- Topical treatments
to help with symptoms
- Surgery to release
pinched nerves
If you have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, you should consult a
podiatrist and get Neuropathy
Treatment.
Comments
Post a Comment