What is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a general medical term used to describe conditions that affect the nerves.
Peripheral neuropathy is a type of this condition that affects the nerves located outside the spinal cord and the brain. This is most often in the arms and legs.
Symptoms
These are the symptoms that a patient with neuropathy may experience:
- Sharp, burning, tingling or throbbing pain.
- Numbness, tingling or prickling sensation.
- Muscle weakness
Causes and Risks
The most common causes include the following:
- Nerve damage due to trauma or injury
- Diabetes
- Genetic disease
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment of peripheral neuropathy depends on the cause of the nerve damage.
Early diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy is very important, as there is a possibility to remove the offending agent and slow the progression of the nerve damage.