Neuropathy is the result of damage caused to your nerves. These particular nerves, sometimes referred to as peripheral nerves, are located on the outside of your spinal cord and brain. Any damage that is caused can be from many different sources, like traumatic experiences, infections, inherited causes, or even metabolic issues. However, one of the most common causes is diabetes.

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TYPES OF NEUROPATHY

Peripheral neuropathy is very common yet potentially dangerous if not addressed and treated. If left alone, it is possible to develop some serious complications – like gangrene – and this can potentially lead to amputation of the infected limb.

Unless you are dealing with neuropathy directly, you may not know that there are a few different types, such as:

• Sensory Neuropathy. Involves nerves that control feeling, like pain, touch, or even temperature.
• Motor Neuropathy. Consists of damage to the nerves that involve muscles, and movement in the body like talking, and moving your hands and arms.
• Autonomic Nerve Neuropathy. This type is just an automatic response. They are regular functions like your heartbeat and breathing.

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SIGNS OF NEUROPATHY

Many individuals only know that neuropathy causes numbness. But there are actually numerous other signs that you may have neuropathy. It is so important that you listen to your body and let your health care professional know when something doesn’t feel right. You always want to get to the root cause of the issue.

A few signs you may have neuropathy are:

• Numbness in a body part
• Burning pain or paralysis
• Muscle Twitching
• Changes in skin, hair, or nails
• Balance issues, or loss of balance
• Loss of pain or sensations
• Heat intolerance
• Bladder control issues
• Incontinence related to nerve damage
• Trouble swallowing or eating
• Sleep disruptions
• Emotional disturbances
• Muscle weakness

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DIAGNOSING NEUROPATHY

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can be so different that it can be tough for some healthcare professionals to make a diagnosis. Some testing can help, such as:

• Blood tests
• Muscle strength tests
• Spinal fluid tests CT Scans

Depending on what the initial tests reveal, you may need to go into more in-depth tests like:

• CT Scans
• MRI Scans
• Nerve / Skin Biopsy

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In the meantime, there are things you can do as an individual to help yourself. Self-care is a great way to be proactive against neuropathy. For example, some of the symptoms can be reduced by avoiding alcohol, eating healthy, exercising regularly, and even maintaining a healthy weight can help. As always, it’s important to get to the root cause of your neuropathy so that your body can begin to heal.

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To learn more about neuropathy with Dr. Randy Hansbrough and his team, call the office at (772) 287-7701 to schedule an appointment. Or sign up for a free, 30-minute consultation.

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