Diseases

Peripheral Neuropathy

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Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to your peripheral nerves, often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet. It can also affect other areas of your body. Your peripheral nervous system sends information from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) to the rest of your body.

SYMPTOMS

Pain areas: in the back, face, foot, hands, or thigh
Pain types: can be burning and tingling or sharp
Pain circumstances: can occur at night
Muscular: cramping, difficulty walking, muscle weakness, problems with coordination, or loss of muscle
Sensory: pins and needles, uncomfortable tingling and burning, over sensitivity, reduced sensation of touch, or sensitivity to pain
Whole body: poor balance or weakness
Also common: slow reflexes, tingling feet, or tingling fingers

CAUSES

It most commonly occurs in the legs. Other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can include weakness andnumbness. Poorly controlled diabetes is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy, but a number of conditions can be responsible for damage to the peripheral nerves.