Peripheral neuropathy
The term "peripheral neuropathy" refers to dysfunction of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which transmit signals from the brain center to the muscles of the head, arms, legs, trunk. Peripheral nerves are divided into sensory nerves, represented by thin and thick fibers, and motor nerves. Sensory nerves conduct impulses to the skin and internal organs.
Thanks to motor nerves, various parts of the body carry out the functions of movement.
For example, if a person touches a hot object with his hand, the sensory nerves will instantly report pain to the brain. Further, information is transmitted from the brain to the motor nerves, as a result, the person's hand twitches from the object that caused the pain. Neuropathy limits the movement and sensitivity of the human body. Most often, this type of neuropathy first affects the sensory nerves leading to the feet and hands.
Peripheral neuropathy is a tickling and tingling sensation in the soles of the feet, and sometimes these symptoms can be seen in the toes. Over time, the tingling sensation spreads to the feet and hands, worsening of the condition causes burning, sharp, often throbbing pain. People with severe illness may have difficulty walking and experience symptoms in both lower or upper limbs.
Painful sensations can be constant or occur periodically, neuropathy can proceed unnoticed or greatly disturb the patient. Besides the fact that the disease brings physical discomfort, it significantly reduces the quality of life. To avoid pain, people are forced to walk a little, it is difficult for them to climb stairs, communication becomes limited.
In people diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, precise motor skills are impaired, there is uncertainty when walking, coordination changes and involuntary movements, muscle weakness are noticeable. Paralysis, convulsions are possible. Peripheral neuropathy can affect the autonomic nervous system. Symptoms of such a lesion are manifested by low sweating, the patient's skin is warm, dry.
Other patients also experience excessive sweating, urinary incontinence, diarrhea, or constipation. There is a decrease in muscle tension, blood pressure, hearing, dizziness is noted, heart palpitations and irregular heart rhythms are found in patients, there is a decrease in hair growth, and men have problems with potency.
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Neuropathy causes psychological problems in the form of increased anxiety and even depression. Disease can be caused by direct damage to the nervous tissue, resulting from fractures and burns. Diseases such as diabetes, arthritis are also among the causes of neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is observed in alcohol abusers, and its origin is associated with a genetic predisposition.
Causes of neuropathy - Guillain-Barré syndrome, endocrine diseases, compression of nerves, kidney disease, radiation received during the treatment of cancer, myydosis. Damage to the nerves of the peripheral system is determined in HIV-infected people, in people with genetic liver pathologies, in disorders caused by a tumor process.
Neuropathy develops when vitamins B12 and E are lacking, and taking large amounts of vitamin B6 can also contribute to nerve damage.
If a drug is causing peripheral neuropathy, it should be discontinued. Typically, with proper treatment and lifestyle changes, symptoms of peripheral neuropathy resolve after withdrawal after a few weeks or months.
Treatment of peripheral neuropathy in advanced stages is often very difficult. After applying all existing methods, relief can occur, but this is mainly expressed in the removal of symptoms, it is very difficult to restore the nervous tissue and it is almost impossible.
Moreover, determining the best treatment for neuropathy is a trial and error process. Prescribed drugs that eliminate pain, tingling, burning and other symptoms of neuropathy. When choosing them, it is necessary to take into account the frequency of pain, the strength of the pain and the side effects of the drugs.
One of the main tasks in identifying and treating a disease is the timely determination of the diagnosis.
Modern medicine is constantly looking for ways to optimize therapeutic approaches to increase the effectiveness of treatment. Despite some advances in this matter, the possibility of using new methods of treating patients with peripheral neuropathy is being studied. The choice of a way to solve problems remains highly relevant.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
