Age: People older than 50 are at higher risk for most peripheral neuropathies. Family history: Some rare neuropathies are caused by genetic defects that are passed down in families. Having another condition: Peripheral neuropathy is often linked to other conditions, such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, kidney failure or cancer.
Diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
This is the most common cause. Among people with diabetes, more than half will develop some type of neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy has many different causes. One of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy in the U.S. is diabetes. The most common type of peripheral neuropathy is diabetic neuropathy, caused by a high sugar level and resulting in nerve fiber damage in your legs and feet.
Peripheral neuropathy commonly affects your feet. That can cause soft tissue and bone changes, including sores and infections, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. Many people with peripheral neuropathy need to see a podiatrist (foot specialist). Other pain treatments.
In addition to glucose levels, high triglyceride and cholesterol levels are also associated with increased risk of neuropathy. Patients who are overweight or obese are also at increased risk of developing neuropathy.
Clinical Features. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency is associated with hematologic, neurologic, and psychiatric manifestations. Subacute combined degeneration, neuropsychiatric symptoms, peripheral neuropathy and optic neuropathy are the classic neurological consequences of B12 deficiency.
The nerve damage behind neuropathy can have many causes. Poorly controlled diabetes accounts for about 60 percent of cases. Chemotherapy, HIV, shingles, kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, alcoholism, nutrient deficiencies, hereditary disorders, and physical trauma are other causes.
The most common type of neuropathy is peripheral neuropathy. It affects the nerves in the hands, feet, legs, and arms. It generally starts in the feet, and it tends to start in both feet at once.
Most peripheral neuropathies are slowly progressive chronic diseases (clinical pattern #1).
Treating neuropathy can be a difficult and long-term process, but with the right medical interventions and lifestyle changes, it is possible to reduce or even reverse symptoms.
Stage One: Numbness and Pain
When peripheral neuropathy first starts, you'll feel some pain and numbness off and on. These symptoms don't occur all the time, and they're often subtle. You may feel a little bit of discomfort in your foot, for example, every few weeks.
Mean survival time for those with PN was 10.8 years, compared with 13.9 years for subjects without PN. PN was also indirectly associated through impaired balance.
While anxiety and stress can play into neuropathy, they can't actually damage your nerves. This means that stress isn't a root cause of neuropathy. Even if you're incredibly stressed every day for months, that by itself won't cause damage to your nerves.
For example, peripheral neuropathy caused by a vitamin deficiency can be treated -- even reversed -- with vitamin therapy and an improved diet. Likewise, nerve damage brought on by alcohol abuse can often be stopped and improved by avoiding alcohol.
It's common to experience pain in the arms, hands, legs or feet and feel a tingling, burning or stabbing sensation that won't stop. However, there are many other symptoms to nerve pain that can trigger the onset of chronic pain.
Fried foods – Fried foods are unhealthy and can worsen neuropathy symptoms. They are also difficult to digest and can cause stomach upset. Grain products with Gluten – Those with neuropathy should consider avoiding refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pastas, pizza, crackers and other snacks.
SNRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine at the synaptic level. Duloxetine is the most effective in reducing neuropathic pain.
The most effective treatment was nortriptyline. Of the study subjects taking this medication, 25% reported their discomfort improved by at least 50%. The least effective treatment was pregabalin: only 15% of study subjects reported that much improvement. Side effects were common with all of the treatments.
The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy state that magnesium may help with chemotherapy-related neuropathy, but more research is needed. A study published in Nutrients of people undergoing chemotherapy found that people who had high levels of magnesium in their diet were less likely to experience neuropathy.
B vitamins are known for their ability to support healthy nervous system function. Vitamins B-1, B-6, and B-12 have been found to be especially beneficial for treating neuropathy. Vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine, helps to reduce pain and inflammation and vitamin B-6 preserves the covering on nerve endings.