Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatments, and Prevention Strategies for a Healthier Outlook

Researchers categorize these neuropathies based on the type of nerve damage. Mononeuropathy is when one nerve is affected, while polyneuropathies, which are more common, involve damage to multiple nerves.

Although peripheral neuropathy can be uncomfortable, there are effective treatments available. It is crucial to find out if a severe underlying condition causes it.

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy

In our bodies, three types of nerves play different roles. Doctors identify the specific type of peripheral neuropathy based on which group of nerves is affected. The three nerve groups are:

1. Motor nerves: These control muscle movements, such as walking, talking, or using your hands and arms.

2. Sensory nerves are responsible for sensations like hot or cold, pain, or touch.

3. Autonomic nerves: Manage internal body processes like breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.

Peripheral neuropathy can impact one, two, or all three nerve groups. When only one nerve is affected, it’s called mononeuropathy.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of neuropathy:

Motor neuropathy: Muscle cramps, twitching, weakness, foot drop, muscle wasting, or paralysis.

Sensory neuropathy: Prickling or tingling sensations, numbness, reduced ability to feel pain or temperature, increased pain from light touch, burning or sharp pain, and loss of balance or coordination.

Autonomic neuropathy: Constipation or diarrhea, bloating, belching, feeling sick, fainting or dizziness upon standing, rapid heart rate, excessive or insufficient sweating, sexual function problems, loss of bowel control, and difficulty emptying the bladder.

These symptoms can create challenges in daily life, such as difficulty walking or sleeping due to foot and leg pain. It’s important to share all your symptoms with your doctor to ensure the correct diagnosis and the most effective treatment. This information is crucial as similar symptoms might indicate other conditions.

What leads to peripheral neuropathy?

Many things can lead to this problem. Sometimes, it’s in your genes, but you usually get it from other stuff.

Doctors might not know why it’s happening if it’s not from your genes. Usually, they can figure out what’s causing it in most cases.

• Generalized diseases

Diabetes can mess with your nerves, causing problems like numbness, pain, and loss of feeling in your arms and legs — a common issue known as neuropathy. To avoid this, the American Diabetes Association suggests these simple steps:

1. Monitor your blood sugar levels and ensure they’re in the correct range. This helps you know if your diabetes plan is working.

2. Check your feet regularly for injuries, infections, or sore spots.

3. If you notice signs of neuropathy (nerve trouble), tell your doctor early and get treated.

4. Wear special shoes to protect your feet and be careful when washing and exercising.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes deal with some nerve issues.

Other chronic diseases that might mess with your nerves include autoimmune diseases (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), kidney or liver problems, and issues with your blood vessels and blood.

• Injury

Getting hurt or experiencing accidents can mess up your nerves. Things like car crashes, falls, or broken bones can lead to nerve injuries. Not moving around much or staying in one position too long can also complicate your nerves.

Too much pressure on the median nerve in your wrist (the one that helps your hand feel and move) can result in carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a typical kind of nerve problem on your body’s outskirts.

• Toxins and alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol can harm your nerves, especially if you have a severe alcohol problem. This puts you at a greater risk of developing peripheral neuropathy, a condition that affects your nerves.

Using harmful chemicals like glue, solvents, or insecticides, whether it’s from substance abuse or at work, can also damage your nerves. Moreover, being exposed to heavy metals like lead and mercury can lead to the same nerve-related issues.

• Autoimmune disorders and infections

Certain viruses and bacteria can directly harm our nerves.

For example, viruses like herpes simplex, varicella-zoster (which causes chickenpox and shingles), and Epstein-Barr can damage our sensory nerves, leading to intense shooting pain. Bacterial infections like Lyme disease can also result in nerve damage and pain if not properly treated. Individuals with HIV or AIDS may develop peripheral neuropathy, a condition affecting the nerves.

Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, impact our peripheral nervous system in various ways. Persistent inflammation and damage to tissues throughout the body, along with pressure from inflammation, can cause severe nerve pain in our limbs.

• Medications

Some medicines can harm your nerves. These include:

1. Drugs for seizures.

2. Medications to fight bacterial infections.

3. Some blood pressure pills.

4. Medicines for treating cancer.

A study from 2020 discovered that while there’s no clear proof that statins, a type of drugs that lower cholesterol and prevent heart problems, directly cause nerve damage, they might make you more likely to get nerve damage for other reasons.

Diagnosing peripheral neuropathy

First, your doctor will check your body and discuss your health history. They might also do some other tests:

1. Electromyography (EMG):

EMG is a test that helps your doctor see if there are issues with how the signals from your nerves reach your muscles. During the test, your doctor will insert a small needle into your muscle and ask you to move it gently. The needle has probes that measure the electricity in your muscle. It might feel like a shot, and the area could be sore for a few days afterward.

2. Nerve Conduction Study:

This study involves your doctor placing electrodes on your skin and sending small amounts of electricity through your nerves to check if the signals are going through properly. It might be uncomfortable during the procedure but shouldn’t cause pain afterward.

The connection between your upper cervical spine and nervous system

The top part of your neck, comprised of the first (C1) and second (C2) vertebrae, known as the atlas and axis, plays a crucial role in where your brain meets the rest of your body. If these neck bones aren’t aligned properly, it can mess with how your nerves send signals, possibly leading to issues like peripheral neuropathy that mess up your body’s nerve balance.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic: A Precise Method

Upper cervical chiropractic care is about fixing misalignments in the upper neck area. Instead of the usual broad adjustments you might associate with regular chiropractic care, these practitioners use precise and gentle techniques. This is especially crucial when working with complicated neurological conditions due to the delicate nature of the upper neck region.

Benefits of Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Restoring Nerve Function: This treatment aims to relieve pressure on your nerves by aligning the upper part of your neck. It can help bring back normal nerve function, potentially easing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

Better Blood Flow: Ensuring your spine is aligned properly can boost blood flow, ensuring your nerves get the nutrients and oxygen they need. This improved blood circulation can speed up healing and reduce inflammation, relieving neuropathic pain.

Improved Brain-Body Communication: Adjusting the upper part of your neck can help your brain communicate better with your body, which is essential for the peripheral nervous system to work correctly. This improved communication can help ease symptoms related to peripheral neuropathy.

Overall Well-being: This treatment tackles symptoms and focuses on your overall health. Restoring balance in your nervous system can lead to better sleep, mood, and energy levels, ultimately improving your quality of life.

Treatment plans are personalized.

Upper cervical chiropractors create custom treatment plans after doing thorough evaluations, which may include taking X-rays or MRIs. This personalized method ensures the treatment is designed for each person’s unique needs, making it more effective.

Apart from addressing current symptoms, getting upper cervical chiropractic care might also help prevent issues. This type of care focuses on keeping your spine and nervous system in good shape, which could lower the chances of developing conditions like peripheral neuropathy, especially if you’re already at risk.

Takeaway

Peripheral neuropathy is a complicated issue that often needs different types of treatment. Upper cervical chiropractic care is a promising option that focuses on fixing problems with the nerves and structure in the upper part of the spine. This specialized care ensures the upper spine is aligned correctly, which can help restore nerve function, improve blood flow, and make you feel better overall. People dealing with peripheral neuropathy might get relief and a better quality of life through this chiropractic treatment. It’s a hopeful choice for those looking for different ways to improve their health. As we learn more about and use upper cervical chiropractic care, its role in treating peripheral neuropathy and other nerve problems is becoming more well-known. This shows a shift towards more holistic and patient-centered healthcare options.

Disclaimer:

Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Corrections to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or products you obtain through this article or others.