Dealing with Peripheral Neuropathy Peripheral neuropathy occurs when there is a problem in the feet or hands that produces pain, loss of sensation, and/or an inability to control muscles. What does the term “peripheral neuropathy” mean? “Peripheral” refers to nerves located farther out from the center of the body, further away from the brain and spinal cord, such as the feet and legs or the hands and arms; “Neuro” means nerves; and “Pathy” means abnormal, so all together, it means abnormal nerves located in the feet or hands. Peripheral neuropathy has many, many causes. Hereditary: • Charcot-Marie Tooth Disorder • Fredrick’s Ataxia Systemic (affect the whole body): • Diabetes • Dietary deficiencies (loss of B12, iron, trace minerals, etc.) • Uremia from kidney failure • Cancer Infections or Inflammation: • AIDS • Hepatitis • Tick fever • Diphtheria • Guillain-Barré Syndrome • Leprosy • Lyme disease • Polyarteritis Nodosa • Rheumatoid arthritis • Lupus • Sarcoidosis • Amyloidosis • Syphilis • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (an autoimmune disease that attacks the nerve sheaths) Exposure to Poisonous Substances or Drugs, such as: • Chemotherapy • Alcoholism • Heavy metals (i.e. lead, arsenic, mercury) • Sniffing glue or other toxic compounds • Nitrous oxide • Industrial chemicals, especially solvents Miscellaneous Causes, such as: • Compression of a nerve by a cast, splint, brace, crutch, or other such device • Exposure to cold temperatures • Prolonged pressure on a nerve (such as a long surgery) • Direct injury of a nerve by hitting the nerve (trauma) The symptoms depend on what type of nerve is affected. There are 3 main types of nerves: Sensory nerves carry sensations Motor nerves control muscles Autonomic nerves regulate automatic function, such as pupil dilation and organ and gland function Sensory symptoms may cause you to experience pain, numbness, tingling, hypersensitivity, burning, stinging, prickling, crawling, cold, itching, buzzing, vibrating, deadened feeling, or like your skin feels as though it is covered in dry glue. It could even feel like there is a sock folded and bunched up in your shoe when there is not. Motor symptoms may include difficulty getting out of a chair or going up steps, catching a toe on the carpet, general clumsiness, legs feeling heavy, and problems with fatigue when walking any distance. It can also include clawing of the toes. Autonomic symptoms include abnormal fluctuations in blood pressure, the inability to hold your bowels, poor bladder control or sexual function, a loss of ability to regulate body temperature, and a loss of regulation of blood flow. At TriState Hand, Foot and Ankle Therapy, we offer an option for relief. We offer Anodyne® Infrared Light Therapy to help decrease numbness and pain, especially in the feet. Anodyne pads are placed on the feet, and along with some light exercise, they increase blood flow to the microvasculature and help restore sensation to the feet. Results can vary, but 85% of the patients we treat report significant relief! Once sensation improves, so does your balance, which I’m sure you’ll agree is a good side effect! If you would like more information or a free screening to see whether you might have peripheral neuropathy, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (301) 759-4263 today! Try therapy first at TriState! |
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