Neuropathy

The nerve fibres of the nervous system get damaged due to disease or injury, this condition is called Neuropathy. As it affects the peripheral nervous system it is called as peripheral neuropathy, the network of nerve running from spinal cord and brain carrying impulses from and to the rest of the body parts like organs and limbs. These are also responsible for the body’s movement and senses.
The Symptoms may differ depending which of the nerves are affected in neuropathy, as the peripheral nerves passes signs to different parts of the body. Example: damage in the nerves leading to muscles results in weak muscles. Also the spinal cord and brain receive messages from peripheral nerves, hence you get to some sensation. Individuals with damage in sensory nerve do not feel any pain instead they feel numbness in that area. Often people aren’t aware about the cause of their neuropath, but in maximum cases it can be by a injury or condition. Diabetic neuropathy can be a most often cause of neuropathy, wherein damage nerves results in high blood sugar levels often seen in diabetes.
In case of neuropathy several nerves can be damaged or a single. It can be of a slower onset or it can also be long term or rapid onset short term.

Symptoms

As there are numerous varieties of nerves in the peripheral nervous system, there are numerous types of neuropathy. Depending which nerves are affected the symptoms occur accordingly. Some of the symptoms are:

• Inability to sweat normally, to control your blood pressure and to control organs such as the bladder or erectile function – caused by damage to certain ‘autonomic’ nerves.
• Burning, stabbing or shooting pain (called ‘neuralgia’ or ‘neuropathic pain’) – caused by damaged to certain sensory nerves.
• Numbness and temporary paralysis, loss of reflexes, loss of coordination, and loss of ability to detect pain or changes in temperature – caused by damage to certain sensory nerves
• Muscle weakness and paralysis, muscle wasting and muscle twitches – caused by damage to the motor nerves.
  Causes
• Peripheral neuropathy can be inherited in some cases, while in most cases it can be result of an immune disorder, infection, disease and injury.
• Immune disorder: The body’s immune system attacks and damages the peripheral nerves.
• Infection: Bacteria or viruses infecting the body can cause peripheral neuropathy. For example, HIV and the herpes varicella-zoster virus (which causes shingles and chickenpox) can attack nerve tissue, as can the bacteria that cause Lyme disease
• Disease: Diabetes mellitus often causes peripheral neuropathy because high blood sugar levels can damage nerves. Other diseases that can cause nerve damage are alcoholism, kidney disease, blood disease, malignant disease and vitamin deficiency. Some drugs may damage nerves.
• Injury: Broken bones, slipped disks and injuries from sports, road accidents or falls can damage the peripheral nerves.
• In case peripheral neuropathy is inherited by charcot Marie tooth disease.
  

  Diagnosis

  The initial enquiries will be about family history with neuropathy and symptoms occurred. Tests will be carried out to check for any results of any conditions like altered senses or muscle weakness. At times disease causing neuropathy is also checked. You will be advised to consult a neurologist for further treatment if there are chances of neuropathy. The Neurologist will carry the following test :
  Scans: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerised tomography (CT) scans take detailed images of the organs, bones and tissues
  Nerve biopsy: A tiny sample of a periphery nerve is removed for testing.
  Electromyography (EMG): A needle-shaped electrode is placed on your skin to measure the electrical activity of your muscles
  Nerve conduction test: Electrodes placed on the skin measure the strength and speed of the signals that are being transmitted through your periphery nerves.

  Treatment

  Pain killers will relieve the pain and few other symptoms can be controlled by change in day to day activity like exercising improves strength in muscles, foot drop caused by muscle weakness can be reduced by foot braces, digestion problems can be improved by making changes in diet.
  It is recommended to control blood sugar levels if you have diabetic neuropathy to control nerve damage. Nerves which are being compressed by a tumour or slip disc, a surgery can relieve the pressure from these nerves.
  In case you have neuropathy as a result of autoimmune disease, you can treat this by medication that suppresses immune system.
  Numb fingers or feet are caused by sensory neuropathy, you need to avoid any injury. Never walk barefoot, should avoid any source of heat injury.