Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, and it can impact your daily life. These nerves carry signals between your body and your central nervous system, and damage disrupts those signals. When the nerves stop working correctly, you may feel pain, numbness, or weakness in your hands and feet. Here is more information on the symptoms and cause of this condition:
Key Symptoms
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may start in the toes or fingers before they spread upward into the feet, legs, hands, and arms. In some cases, they can develop slowly over months or years. Some people notice mild tingling, but others feel sharp, burning pain. Watch for these signs:
- Having numbness in the hands or feet
- Getting tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation
- Having extreme sensitivity to light touch
- Having muscle weakness or cramps
- Falling or losing balance frequently
- Sweating or blood pressure changes
Neuropathy may affect sensory, motor, or autonomic nerves, and each type produces different symptoms. If autonomic nerves are involved, you may notice dizziness when standing, bladder problems, or heat intolerance. Numb feet also raise your risk of unnoticed cuts and infections.
Check your feet daily for blisters, sores, or redness. Neuropathy can progress gradually, and because its symptoms can overlap with other conditions, it may go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. While symptoms like tingling and numbness can be minor, they can escalate into severe complications if left untreated.
Main Causes
Diabetes is a major cause of peripheral neuropathy. Up to one-half of people with diabetes develop nerve damage because high blood sugar harms nerves over time. Excess glucose damages small blood vessels, and the nerves lose their supply of oxygen and nutrients.
Vitamin deficiencies also play a role, and low B12 levels are a factor. Heavy alcohol use may harm nerves and lower vitamin levels. Kidney disease, liver disease, and an underactive thyroid may trigger neuropathy when toxins or fluid build up.
While they might occur less often, infections such as shingles, Lyme disease, and HIV also damage nerves. Autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis attack healthy tissue, and nerves sometimes become a target. Certain chemotherapy drugs and toxins like lead also injure nerves. In some cases, doctors find no clear cause, which they call idiopathic neuropathy.
Factors That Apply
Some factors can raise your chance of developing neuropathy, and a few of them fall within your control. If you have one or more of these factors, your doctor may suggest regular nerve screenings. Risk factors include:
- Poorly managed diabetes
- Over two alcoholic drinks per day
- Past family history of neuropathy
- Existing kidney, liver, or thyroid disease
- Repetitive motions that press on nerves
Age and genetics stay outside your control. You can lower your risk when you manage blood sugar, eat a balanced diet, and limit alcohol. Regular exercise improves blood flow to the nerves, and quitting smoking helps your blood vessels stay healthy.
Get Checked for Peripheral Neuropathy
If you notice numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet, see a pain management specialist at a clinic near you. Blood tests may reveal diabetes or vitamin gaps, and a nerve conduction study measures how well signals travel. Once your provider finds the cause, the two of you can create a plan to manage your symptoms. Bring a list of your symptoms and current medications to your visit.
