What is neuropathy symptoms

Autonomic nerves control functions that you are not conscious of, such as breathing and heartbeat. Damage to these nerves can be serious. Combination neuropathies. You may have a mix of 2 or 3 of these other types of neuropathies, such as a sensory-motor neuropathy.

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy vary based on the type that you have and what part of the body is affected. Symptoms can range from tingling or numbness in a certain body part to more serious effects such as burning pain or paralysis.

Loss of balance or other functions as a side effect of the loss of feeling in the legs, arms, or other body parts. Loss of pain or sensation that can put you at risk, such as not feeling an impending heart attack or limb pain. Diarrhea, constipation, or incontinence related to nerve damage in the intestines or digestive tract. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may look like other conditions or medical problems.

Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. The symptoms and body parts affected by peripheral neuropathy are so varied that it may be hard to make a diagnosis. If your healthcare provider suspects nerve damage, he or she will take an extensive medical history and do a number of neurological tests to determine the location and extent of your nerve damage. These may include:. Depending on what basic tests reveal, your healthcare provider may want to do more in-depth scanning and other tests to get a better look at your nerve damage.

Tests may include:. If an underlying condition like diabetes is at fault, your healthcare provider will treat that first and then treat the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy. In some cases, over-the-counter pain relievers can help.

Other times, prescription medicines are needed. Some of these medicines include mexiletine, a medicine developed to correct irregular heart rhythms; antiseizure drugs, such as gabapentin, phenytoin, and carbamazepine; and some classes of antidepressants, including tricyclics such as amitriptyline. Chemotherapy, HIV, shingles, kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, alcoholism, nutrient deficiencies, hereditary disorders, and physical trauma are other causes.

In 23 percent of cases, the cause is unknown. What is the best treatment for neuropathy? Detecting and treating the underlying condition that caused your nerve damage is key to prevent further harm. Next, depending on the type of neuropathy, you may use OTC pain relievers; obtain a prescription antidepressant, antiseizure, or antiepileptic medication from your doctor; or explore neuromodulation or surgery for symptom relief. Is neuropathy curable? In some cases, correcting the underlying condition that caused neuropathy can allow nerves to recover or regenerate.

For instance, not all cases of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy are permanent. Some types of neuropathy, such as diabetic neuropathy, are irreversible, and the goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent further damage.

What does neuropathic pain feel like? It frequently involves burning or tingling sensations, but it can also have shooting, stabbing, electric-shock-like, or numbing qualities. Your reaction to a stimulus could feel more intense than normal hyperalgesia or unusual paresthesia. Is walking good exercise for neuropathy? Regular exercise may lessen pain and address the muscle weakness that some people have with neuropathy.

It can help lower blood sugar and the risk of further nerve damage, too. Still, check with your doctor before starting exercise, because neuropathy can increase the risk of injury or alter your response to it. Dietary Risk Factors Nutrient deficiencies — whether caused by disease-related malabsorption, alcoholism , or an unbalanced diet — can also lead to neuropathy. Types of Neuropathy Where the nerve damage occurs determines the type of neuropathy you have.

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy describes: Mononeuropathy When neuropathy involves damage to only one nerve, it is called mononeuropathy. Williams and the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy describe the following types of common tests: 23 Electrodiagnostic Testing These include electromyography and nerve conduction testing, where nerves are stimulated and their responses are recorded and analyzed for abnormalities.

Prognosis of Neuropathy The prognosis for neuropathy depends on the type you have and how much it has progressed. Medication Options Common over-the-counter medications that people reach for to address mild to moderate neuropathic pain include: Tylenol acetaminophen Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs such as Advil ibuprofen and Aleve naproxen Topical treatments such as capsaicin and lidocaine creams 28 Prescription medications can be taken as well.

Exercise and Neuropathy Making fitness a part of your routine can help to address the muscle weakness that some people experience with neuropathy, as well as reduce pain.

Prevention of Neuropathy As the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy notes, you can adjust your eating habits to address underlying causes of neuropathy, such as diabetes, celiac disease, and nutrient deficiencies such as not having enough vitamin B Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. Peripheral Neuropathy.

Mayo Clinic. August 9, Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. March 16, How Does the Nervous System Work? PubMed Health. August 19, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. Idiopathic Neuropathy. Chemo-Induced PN. Autoimmune Disease. Baik H, Russel R. Vitamin B12 Deficiency in the Elderly.

Annual Review of Nutrition. July Nutritional and Vitamin Deficiency Neuropathy. Vitamin B March 30, Jun Ma, Betts N. The Journal of Nutrition. November American Journal of Emergency Medicine. February Hemminger A, Wills B. Vitamin B6 Toxicity.

April 27, Environmental Protection Agency. Consumer Reports. November 18, Staff N, Windebank A. October What Is Peripheral Neuropathy? Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy. August 25, Diabetes Care. January Neuropathic Pain. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. February 16, Neurological Exams. Internal Neurolysis Peripheral Nerve Disorders. NYU Langone Health. Barrett S, Nickerson DS. Practical Pain Management. June 17, September 23, Pain Medication. Gabapentin for Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Adults.

June 9, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. December July 8, Diabetic Medicine. Damage to nerves from chronic alcohol use can have long-lasting and painful effects. Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful condition with severe neuropathic pain of one side of the face. Lastly, cancer treatment may cause neuropathic pain.

Chemotherapy and radiation can both impact the nervous system and cause unusual pain signals. Injuries to tissue, muscles, or joints are an uncommon cause of neuropathic pain. Likewise, back, leg, and hip problems or injuries can cause lasting damage to nerves. While the injury may heal, the damage to the nervous system may not.

As a result, you may experience persistent pain for many years after the accident. Accidents or injuries that affect the spine can cause neuropathic pain, too. Herniated discs and spinal cord compression can damage the nerve fibers around your spine.

Shingles , which is caused by reactivation of the chicken pox virus, can trigger several weeks of neuropathic pain along a nerve. Postherpetic neuralgia is a rare complication of shingles, involving persistent neuropathic pain.

A syphilis infection can also lead to the burning, stinging unexplained pain. People with HIV may experience this unexplained pain. An uncommon form of neuropathic pain called phantom limb syndrome can occur when an arm or leg has been amputated.

In addition to arms or legs, phantom pain may be felt in the fingers, toes, penis, ears, and other body parts. An important goal is that your doctor will aim to provide pain relief, help you maintain typical capabilities despite the pain, and improve your quality of life. Plus, doctors may hesitate to prescribe them for fear that a person may become dependent. Topical pain relievers can be used, too. These include lidocaine patches, capsaicin patches, and prescription-strength ointments and creams.

Antidepressant medications have shown great promise in treating symptoms of neuropathic pain. Anti-seizure medications and anticonvulsants are often used to treat neuropathic pain. Gabapentinoids are most commonly prescribed for neuropathic pain. Your doctor may inject steroids, local anesthetics, or other pain medications into the nerves that are thought to be responsible for the wayward pain signals.

These blocks are temporary, so they must be repeated in order to keep working. This invasive procedure requires a surgeon to implant a device in your body. Some devices are used in the brain and some are used in the spine. Once a device is in place, it can send electrical impulses into the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. The impulses may stop the irregular nerve signals and control symptoms.