Neuropathy is a challenging condition that causes a wide variety of symptoms depending on what nerves have been affected. While those symptoms are most commonly associated with diabetes, there are plenty of other conditions that can cause nerve damage and lead to symptoms of neuropathy. Let's dive into neuropathy and how we handle such a unique disorder at McWhorter CNR.
Neuropathy is a term that refers to the malfunction of the nerves. This is a very general definition of neuropathy, which can be further classified by the types or locations of the affected nerves or by the diseases that cause the malfunction. The four different types of neuropathy include:
- Peripheral neuropathy - Affects the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.
- Cranial neuropathy - Affects any of the twelve cranial nerves.
- Autonomic neuropathy - Affects the nerves responsible for the involuntary nervous system, including circulation, digestion, bowel, bladder, sexual response, and perspiration.
- Focal neuropathy - Restricted to one nerve, group of nerves or area of the body.
Depending on the nerve or group of nerves that have been damaged, the experience with neuropathy can vary widely, which is why we recommend that you work closely with a healthcare professional to ensure that you can manage your symptoms.
What Causes Neuropathy?
Nerve damage can be traced back to any number of diseases, injuries, infections, and deficiencies. Diabetes is one of the most common conditions related to neuropathy. Because this relation is so common, many diabetics that suffer from neuropathy will often refer to the condition as "diabetic neuropathy." If you are diabetic, the risk of developing neuropathy increases as you age and with the duration of your diabetes. However, diabetes is far from the only condition that can lead to neuropathy. In addition to diabetes, you can experience nerve damage from:
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Autoimmune disease
- Genetic disorders
- Toxins, Poisons, or Drugs
- Trauma or Injury
Essentially, anything that can have an impact on your nerves can lead to neuropathy. Collaborating with a pain management specialist can help you identify whether or not you actually have neuropathy and they can instruct you best on how to go about managing your symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms Of Neuropathy?
Neuropathy can impact any nerve or group of nerves throughout the body, which means the specific symptoms will vary wildly. As neuropathy can be categorized into four different types, it makes sense to look at the symptoms as they apply to the unique presentations of neuropathy.
Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms
Peripheral neuropathy is often accompanied by damage to the sensory nerves. This means that feelings of numbness and tingling are common symptoms. This sensation is known as paresthesia in medical circles. Extreme sensitivity to touch is another common symptom of peripheral neuropathy.
Blisters and sores on the feet could indicate that sensory input from your feet has been lost. Often, because there is no pain signal to indicate a blister or sore, you see these symptoms escalate quickly and become infected.
Cranial Neuropathy Symptoms
The cranial nerves are responsible for a number of different functions in the body. Many symptoms of cranial neuropathy manifest in the face and eyes. The most common symptoms include drooping of the eye or face, double or blurred vision, and abnormal eye movement.
Additionally, those with cranial neuropathy often experience pain, tingling and numbness.
Autonomic Neuropathy Symptoms
This type of neuropathy affects the nerves that control organ function, so we see symptoms manifest in a plethora of different ways, including:
- Nausea, vomiting, and food sensitivity
- Urinary symptoms
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Heat intolerance
Depending on the specific group of nerves that are being affected, some symptoms can be more common than others.
Focal Neuropathy Symptoms
The symptoms of focal neuropathy are hard to generalize because this particular presentation of neuropathy is restricted to one specific nerve or group of nerves. The symptoms will depend heavily on what nerves are being affected.
How Can McWhorter CNR Treat Neuropathy In Denver?
McWhorter CNR is your go-to resource for treating neuropathy. With each presentation of neuropathy being as unique as the individual who is experiencing it, you’ll need a clinic that has a wide variety of diverse resources to effectively address all of the potential underlying causes that are leading to your symptoms.
The treatment of neuropathy is focused on the underlying condition that is causing the nerve damage. Treating this can reduce, and even eliminate, the symptoms of neuropathy.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, it’s worth scheduling a consultation with our neuropathy expert at McWhorter CNR today.