Peripheral neuropathy refers to the conditions that involve damage to the peripheral nervous system. Nerve damage means that the nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) has a more difficult time sending signals to other areas of the body, and it can result in a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, such as burning, numbness, dull or sharp pain, tingling, and weakness in the hands, feet, arms, legs, or other areas.
While one of your main motivators in seeking neuropathy treatment is likely the possibility of eliminating your symptoms, there is a proper way to go about it. Rather than merely take medications that make your symptoms more manageable, you should address the cause of the neuropathy to eliminate your symptoms on a long-term basis.
Before you can address the cause of your neuropathy, you need to figure out what the cause actually is. Here are several possibilities:
- Physical Injury- An injury from a car accident, fall, sport, etc., can damage your spinal cord. In addition, you may experience nerve damage if a broken bone puts too much pressure on nearby nerves.
- Diabetes- People with diabetes are at greater risk of neuropathy. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of neuropathy in the U.S. More than half of people with diabetes experience nerve problems.
- Infections- Certain bacterial and viral infections may lead to neuropathy. Some of these infections include shingles, Lyme disease, hepatitis B and C, and more.
- Kidney or Liver Disease- Kidney and liver disorders are another common cause of neuropathy, since they lead to toxins in the blood that may damage nerves.
If you have symptoms of neuropathy and wish to uncover its cause(s), contact us at Complete Rehab. Our neuropathy clinic has successfully healed many patients.