Symptoms
Damage to the peripheral nerves often results in sensory (feeling) and motor (strength) symptoms in the:
- Arms
- Legs
- Hands
- Feet
Other parts of the body can also be affected. Symptoms depend on which nerves are involved. They can range from mild to severe and may seem worse at night. Sensations and pain may occur in the upper or lower limbs and move toward the trunk (eg, from the feet to the calves).
Symptoms include:
- Numbness or reduced sensation
- Tingling
- Pain, often a burning or sharp, cutting sensation
- Sensitivity to touch
- Muscle twitches
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle cramping
- Difficulty with walking
- Loss of coordination or balance
- Paralysis
If untreated, peripheral neuropathy can lead to:
- Loss of reflexes and muscle control
- Muscle atrophy (loss of muscle bulk)
- Foot deformities
- Foot ulcers
- Injuries to the feet that go unnoticed and become infected
- Autonomic dysfunction (sweating, bowel and bladder dysfunction, cardiovascular effects)
- Difficulty breathing
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. She will also do a physical exam, which will include:
- Muscle strength
- Reflexes
- Balance
- Coordination
- Ability to feel vibration, temperature, and light touch
Additional tests may also include:
- Blood tests (including glucose, vitamin B12 level, and thyroid function tests)
- Electromyography (EMG) —measures and records electrical activity generated in muscle in response to a nervous stimulation
- Nerve conduction studies —measures the speed and degree of electrical activity in a nerve to determine if it is functioning normally
- Nerve or muscle biopsy (rarely)
- Evaluation of family members
- Genetic testing
- Serum/urine electrophoresis (protein evaluation)
- Spinal tap for demyelinating disorders
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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