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.