Peripheral Neuropathy Signs and Symptoms:
Numbness, prickle-like or tingling sensations in arms, legs, hands or feet, sharp, jabbing, burning or freezing pain, throbbing pain and tight-band-like squeezing sensations around hands or feet, decreased coordination, poor balance control, falls and severe sensitivity to touch are results from sensory nerves damage. Regarding falls, the number one cause of death in the elderly is due to head injuries from falls. If the motor nerves are affected, muscle weakness or paralysis can be present.
Altered sweating or heat intolerance, digestive, bowel or bladder problems, dizziness or changes in blood pressure are all signs of the autonomic nerves being effected.
Each nerve in the peripheral nervous system has a specific function therefore, symptoms are dependent on the types of nerves that are affected. Nerves that receive temperature, vibration, touch and pain from the skin are known as Sensory nerves. Nerves that control muscle movement are known as Motor nerves. Nerves that control functions like blood pressure, bladder and bowels and heart rate are known as Autonomic nerves.
When one nerve is affected it is referred to as mononeuropathy. When many nerves are involved it is referred to polyneuropathy. The most common kind of neuropathy is polyneuropathy. An example of mononeuropathy would be carpal tunnel syndrome.
Nerves can and do heal, but only if the environment is conducive to that healing process. Just as a plant will die without light, oxygen, water, nutrients and the right air temperature the nerves will die just the same when its environment has been disrupted. The good news is that most of the time, if the plant is not dead and we were to reintroduce light, oxygen, water and nutrients that plant is likely to come back to health. So can the nerve. The most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) from ischemia (blocked blood vessels). Inflammation is a common factor in the ability or inability for the nerves to heal.
