What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy can develop if you sustain damage to your peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves are a network of nerves through the body, excluding the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system).
Risk Factors
- Alcoholism
- Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
- Bone marrow disorders such as bone cancer or lymphoma
- Chemotherapy
- Diabetes
- Exposure to certain toxins
- Infections such as HIV, hepatitis C, Lyme disease or shingles
- Inherited diseases such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Metabolic problems
- Traumatic injury such as a car accident, fall or sports injury
- Tumors
- Vitamin deficiencies, particularly the B vitamins, vitamin E and niacin
Symptoms
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy usually affect the hands and feet and can spread up the arms and legs. They include:
- Bladder, bowel or digestive issues
- Blood pressure changes that lead to dizziness
- Loss of coordination
- Muscle weakness or paralysis
- Numbness, burning, tingling or prickling sensations
- Sensitivity to touch, vibration or temperature
- Stabbing pain
Peripheral neuropathy can affect one or more nerves in the body. In most cases, the condition affects multiple nerves.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for peripheral neuropathy include:
- Medication management – Your doctor may recommend medications, such as over-the-counter pain relievers topical ointments, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, anti-epileptics, and weak or strong opioid medications to treat your pain.
- Physical therapy – Exercises can help strengthen and support your muscles and joints.
- Injection therapies – Injections can help manage various types of pain by blocking nerve signals. We offer nerve blocks including trigger point injections, peripheral nerve blocks, sympathetic nerve blocks, epidural injections and botox amongst others.
- Stimulation therapies – Procedures can stimulate the nerves and regulate their signals to reduce pain. We offer dorsal root ganglion stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation and spinal cord stimulation.
In some cases, surgery may be required to relieve pressure on the nerves.
Ready for an Appointment?
If you're experiencing signs or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, schedule an appointment or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) today.
Learn more about our doctors and care team who diagnose and treat peripheral neuropathy.