Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, the vast communications network that transmits information from the brain and spinal cord (the
central nervous system) to every other part of the body. Peripheral nerves also send sensory information back to the brain and spinal cord, such as a message that the feet are cold or a
finger is burned. Damage to the peripheral nervous system interferes with these vital connections. Like static on a telephone line, peripheral neuropathy distorts and sometimes
interrupts messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
Because every peripheral nerve has a highly specialized function in a specific part of the body, a wide array of symptoms can occur when nerves are damaged. Some people may experience
temporary numbness, tingling, and pricking sensations (paresthesia), sensitivity to touch, or muscle weakness. Others may suffer more extreme symptoms, including burning pain
(especially at night), muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ or gland dysfunction. People may become unable to digest food easily, maintain safe levels of blood pressure, sweat
normally, or experience normal sexual function. In the most extreme cases, breathing may become difficult or organ failure may occur.
Some forms of neuropathy involve damage to only one nerve and are called mononeuropathies. More often though, multiple nerves affecting all limbs are affected-called polyneuropathy.
Occasionally, two or more isolated nerves in separate areas of the body are affected-called mononeuritis multiplex.
In acute neuropathies, such as Guillain-Barr� syndrome, symptoms appear suddenly, progress rapidly, and resolve slowly as damaged nerves heal. In chronic forms, symptoms begin subtly
and progress slowly. Some people may have periods of relief followed by relapse. Others may reach a plateau stage where symptoms stay the same for many months or years. Some chronic neuropathies worsen over time, but very few
forms prove fatal unless complicated by other diseases. Occasionally the neuropathy is a symptom of another disorder.
In the most common forms of polyneuropathy, the nerve fibers (individual cells that make up the nerve) most distant from the brain and the spinal cord malfunction first. Pain and other
symptoms often appear symmetrically, for example, in both feet followed by a gradual progression up both legs. Next, the fingers, hands, and arms may become affected, and
symptoms can progress into the central part of the body. Many people with diabetic neuropathy experience this pattern of ascending nerve damage.
-------------------- Seeking renewed health & vitality. --------------------------------- Do not take anything I say as medical advice - I am NOT a dr! Posts: 830 | From TN | Registered: Aug 2007
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6215
posted
I have it right now in my feet.
It feels as though someone cut the bottoms of my feet with a razor blade and pourd salt in the wounds and then put socks on my feet.
All this because I walked a mile yesterday and rode the bike for 30 minutes today.
Its not fair. I feel like cutting my feet off.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6215
posted
I just took some lyrica.
I know the feeling in the feet will go away but now I will feel loopy and depressed.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
In very general terms, "peripheral" means away from the torso of the body, so it refers to the limbs (arms, hands, legs & feet) and neuropathy refers to nervous system problems. So it can refer to tingling, numbness, twitching, etc of the limbs.
Patti
Posts: 975 | From California | Registered: Apr 2007
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
I was at the ER today and left with a diagnosis of "peripheral neuropathy."
My hands and wrists are numb, a little pin pricking, loss of feeling, and achey. The loss of feeling is very bothersome to me. It is almost like they were novacained, but not totally.
Actually it feels almost just like when novacaine is just starting to wear off. Like still numb, but a little prickly and almost a slight burning feeling.
My feel have the same symptoms, numbness, tingling, loss of feeling.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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