Foot Neuropathy

Many people may already be aware that one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. But aside from the association of diabetes to it, here are other basic facts about peripheral neuropathy you should know:

• Peripheral neuropathy is primarily caused by damage to the nerves in the peripheral nervous system.
• Peripheral neuropathy commonly starts with numbness, prickling or tingling in the toes or fingers.
• Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by complications with metabolism, toxin exposure, traumatic injury, or infection
• Peripheral neuropathy can sometimes be caused by HIV but is most commonly a side effect of drugs
• Some drugs that people with HIV take can cause peripheral neuropathy.
• Drinking alcohol increases someone’s risk of peripheral neuropathy
• Many of the B vitamins have been found to help with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy
• But taking too much vitamin B6 can cause neuropathy
• The treatment for peripheral neuropathy depends on its cause
• Peripheral neuropathies may either be symmetrical and generalized or focal and multifocal
• Some other conditions can have the same symptoms and be confused with peripheral neuropathy

The first thing to remember when you’re trying to treat peripheral neuropathy is to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and consult the help of the experts. Don’t try to solve the problem yourself if you experience neuropathy in feet because it might lead to a much worse condition. Handle peripheral neuropathy properly.

Diabetes is the leading known cause of neuropathy in most countries, and diabetes could lead to several types of neuropathy including diabetic amyotrophy, polyneuropathy, and autonomic neuropathy.

Diabetic neuropathy usually develops in a person who has been diagnosed with diabetes for a while. It develops slowly and throughout the body, damaging the nerves. While many patients experience some symptoms like tingling in their hands and feet, and numbness, there are also those who do not exhibit any symptom of any nerve damage. However, diabetic neuropathy affects 60-70% of all diabetic patients.

Diabetic neuropathy also usually has to do with age aside from the length of time the patient has had neuropathy. Among those who have diabetic neuropathy has had diabetes for at least 25 years.

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy vary depending on which nerves are affected. As mentioned before, there are those who do not have any symptom at all. But for most patients, the most common symptoms include tingling and numbness.

Listed below are other symptoms of diabetic neuropathy that have been present with most diabetic patients.

• wasting of the muscles of the feet or hands
• indigestion, nausea, or vomiting
• diarrhea or constipation
• dizziness or faintness due to a drop in blood pressure after standing or sitting up
• problems with urination
• erectile dysfunction in men or vaginal dryness in women
• weakness

There are also other conditions like weight loss and depression that may accompany neuropathy but don’t necessarily follow that the diabetic neuropathy has caused these.

There are many possible causes of peripheral neuropathy, and they range from the simple ones like standing in one position for too long, to the really serious diseases like AIDS or Lupus. Below are the causes for your peripheral neuropathy, from diseases, to medications you have taken or are still taking, to exposure to certain toxins.

• Diabetes Mellitus
• Shingles (post herpetic neuralgia)
• Vitamin deficiency, particularly B12 and folate
• Alcohol
• Autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or Guillain-Barre syndrome
• AIDS, whether from the disease or its treatment, syphilis, and kidney failure
• Inherited disorders, such as amyloid polyneuropathy or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
• Exposure to toxins, such as heavy metals, gold compounds, lead, arsenic, mercury, and organophosphate pesticides
• Cancer therapy drugs such as vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar), and other medications [for example antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl), and isoniazid (Nydrazid, Laniazid)
• Uremia
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Nerve entrapment
• Nerve compression
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Trauma
• Penetrating injuries
• Contusions
• Fractures
• Dislocated bones
• Prolonged use of crutches
• Tumor
• Intraneural hemorrhage
• Cold exposure
• Radiation exposure
• Certain medicines
• Certain toxic substances
• Atherosclerosis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Scleroderma
• Sarcoidosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Polyarteritis nodosa

Diabets and post herpetic neuralgia remain to be the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy since diabetes is a common disease. But there are also times when there is no single cause found for the peripheral neuropathy. In such cases, it’s referred to as idiopathic peripheral neuropathy.