Neuropathy is the abbreviated name for peripheral neuropathy. In this condition, a person's peripheral nerves are damaged so he experiences numbness of the body and feels like being pricked with needles (pins and needles). When it is said to be peripheral, it refers to those on the side or end of the body. Therefore, when there is peripheral neuropathy, the symptoms are usually felt in the hands and feet.
Neuropathy causes an uncomfortable feeling and it can affect daily life. In addition to the above-mentioned numbness and sensation of pins and needles, the patient may also experience weakness, pain, and swelling of the muscles of the hand or leg. Symptoms of neuropathy also include weakening of the body's reflexes, sensitivity to temperature, difficulty balancing, sluggish movements, dizziness, and sexual inability.
This condition can be inherited or acquired through various means. Some of the causes of neuropathy are accidents or trauma, infections, autoimmune disorders, systemic diseases, certain types of medications, vascular disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and excessive alcohol consumption.
To treat neuropathy, the patient may be prescribed medications, undergo physical therapy, use instruments that aid in movement, or even undergo surgery.
Causes
Peripheral neuropathy can be inherited or acquired in other ways. Just a few of these well-known causes are:
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. CMT is a hereditary type of In this condition, the motor and sensory nerves of the body are affected. As a result, the patient has difficulty moving his legs and feet due to the weakness of his muscles. Moreover, the feet lose their normal shape or shape over time. This in turn causes the patient to slip or fall frequently. Eventually, CMT will also affect the muscles of the hands.
Accident or trauma. Accidents or trauma can also cause neuropathy. It could be from a fall, a road accident, or a wrong workout. As a result, the body's peripheral nerves can be pinched and cause neuropathy.
Infection. Having an infection in the body can also cause neuropathy. When infected, the body can be attacked by bacteria or viruses. But in the case of neuropathy, the most common cause is viral infection. Some of the viral infections that can cause neuropathy are smallpox, shingles, herpes, AIDS, and more.
Autoimmune disorder. When a person has an autoimmune disorder, the body's own immune system attacks parts of the body. Examples of autoimmune disorders are Guilain-Barre syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. If any of these conditions are present, it is noticeable that you often feel numb and experience the feeling of being pricked in the hands and feet. This is because these conditions already affect the peripheral nerves of the body.
Systemic disease. Systemic disease is an alignment of diseases in which the whole body is affected. Examples of systemic diseases are diabetes, some types of cancer, and most autoimmune diseases. When there is a systemic disease, the peripheral nerves are damaged and result in some types of drugs. Some types of drugs that can also cause this include platinum compounds, taxane, vinca alkaloids, thalidomide, velcade, cystosine arabinoside, misonidazole, interferon, and others.
Vascular disorder. Vascular disorders are types of diseases that affect the body's blood vessels. Examples of vascular disorders are high blood pressure and atherosclerosis or blockage of blood vessels. In these conditions, the blood vessels can become thick and fragile. This in turn results in their wound healing. As a result, nearby nerves in the bloodstream can be affected and cause
Vitamin deficiency. The nerves of the body need a sufficient amount of vitamins to function properly. If you are deficient in vitamins E, B1, B6, B9, B12, and niacin, you may have
Excessive alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption can affect the body's ability to process the vitamins and minerals the nerves need to stay healthy.
Symptoms
If a person has neuropathy, he or she may experience most of the following symptoms:
Feeling like pins and needles on the hands or feet
Numbness of the hands or feet
Muscle weakness
Muscle pain
Swelling of hands or legs
Decreased body reflexes
Temperature sensitivity
Having difficulty balancing
Slow action Poisoning
Sexual incompetence
When neuropathy occurs, symptoms are usually felt on both the right and left sides of the body. But there are also cases where the affected is just one of them.
Risk Factors
Neuropathy can affect anyone, but the following factors increase the likelihood of developing it:
Aging - As we age, the nerves of the body become brittle and fail. As a result, adults often feel nauseous and numb.
Having a family history of diabetes - If some close family members have diabetes, they may also develop diabetes and cause neuropathy.
Having a thin and weak physique - It is also possible for a person to develop neuropathy when he or she has a thin and weak physique. It simply means that he lacks the vitamins and minerals that the nerves need to function properly and stay healthy.
Excessive alcohol consumption - As mentioned earlier, alcohol can affect the body's vitamins and minerals. As a result, the nerves of the body do not get enough nutrition.
Having cancer - People with cancer also increase the likelihood of developing neuropathy. In this condition, not only the body's cells are affected, but also its surrounding nerves.
To avoid
Some types of neuropathy are unavoidable because they are hereditary. But for people who do not have an inherited condition, its presence can be avoided by the following:
Keep the body healthy - If the whole body is healthy, the peripheral nerves of the body will also stay healthy. To strengthen resistance, eat a balanced and nutritious diet every day. Also practice exercise to maintain muscle strength and regulate blood flow.
Reduce alcohol consumption - Reducing or completely stopping drinking and other alcoholic beverages is especially helpful. Apart from neuropathy, it can also cause heart and liver diseases.
Avoid sugary, fatty, and salty foods - Foods that are sweet, fatty, and salty can cause systemic diseases such as To avoid any of these diseases, eat only nutritious foods.
Take supplements - Not all vitamins and minerals are absorbed in food. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor and seek advice on what supplements to take to strengthen the body's resistance.
Neuropathy is not a dangerous condition especially if it is treated early. However, if it is neglected, the normal condition of the hands or feet may not return to normal and it can affect daily life.