12 Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

12 Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy You Should Not Ignore

” Doc, this pins and needles thing in my hands and feet is starting to get really annoying. It starts in the morning and persists all day long. I am constantly shaking my hands and wiggling my feet in an effort to get the feeling back. I can’t sleep, I toss and turn all night long.  Am I being a baby, or is there actually something wrong with me? Could I have peripheral neuropathy?”

Sound familiar?

If you’re like many others, you probably grew up being told to “just walk it off,” to just “suck it up” and move on after an injury. That may be why most adults are under the impression that when it comes to pain, the best thing to do is to ignore it and hope that it goes away. While that may have prevented unnecessary trips to the doctor when you were a child, as an adult, it’s usually not the best idea.

There are some pains and other symptoms that should be addressed as quickly as possible, and never ignored, so that you can live the highest quality life possible – that’s especially true when it comes to these symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, which can develop slowly over months, or even years.

Aching, burning or sharp pain in your feet or legs. For example, one patient diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy noted that symptoms began with pain in one leg, and the sensation of the limb not working properly. That progressed to constant pain in the left foot, and a “pins-and-needles” feeling in the left leg, as well as shooting pain that alternated between the big toe and other toes.

Weakness and loss of balance and coordination. As your motor nerves control voluntary movement of muscles, such as those used for walking, when they’re damaged, you may experience weakness, loss of balance and coordination. It can make something as simple as a walk around the grocery store or buttoning a shirt tough.

A decreased sensation of touch. You may experience the sensation that you’re wearing gloves when you aren’t, or if you accidentally cut yourself, there is little to no pain from the injury.

Extreme sensitivity to touch. Sometimes the opposite is experienced, with a slight touch causing the sensation of pain.

Gradual onset of numbness or that pins-and-needles feeling. This symptom can also result in having difficulty walking or performing other simple tasks as it typically affects the feet or hands, sometimes spreading upward into the legs and arms.

Heat intolerance. Do you find yourself being unable to tolerate the heat? That may be because peripheral neuropathy can cause an inability to sweat, which leads to overheating.

Sleep disturbances. Your sleep can be affected in a number of ways – sometimes the sensation of being hypersensitive to touch, especially in the feet and legs, can make it difficult to fall asleep, or stay asleep. When trying to sleep, your perception of pain can increase, also making it difficult to get a good night’s rest.

Dizziness or lightheadedness. These symptoms can occur due to changes in blood pressure.

Loss of bladder control. Nerves that don’t work properly can lead to bladder control issues and incontinence.

Loss of muscle mass in the legs, hands or feet. You may notice your muscles beginning to shrink and your limbs becoming weaker, or not being able to function as they normally would.

Muscle twitching or cramping. Your muscles may twitch at strange times and even cramp, causing pain.
Frequent falls. If you fall frequently, it may be due to a loss of coordination, another peripheral neuropathy symptom

-Be Well

4 Signs of Focal Neuropathy

You wake up after a good night’s rest, ready to start the day. What’s the first thing you do? Your answer might be to put on your robe, or perhaps open the blinds to let the rays of the sun shine in, but there is something everyone does that you probably take for granted: you open your eyes, focus and expect to see a single image, like the digits on the clock beside your bed.

But one day, that seemingly automatic process that most of us don’t give a second thought to, doesn’t work so well. Instead of seeing a single image, you see double. And, that’s just one of the signs you might have focal neuropathy, a condition in which a nerve that controls a single muscle can lose its function.

Diabetes is the condition most commonly associated with neuropathy. Unlike other types of diabetic nerve pain, focal neuropathy comes on suddenly. It can be unpredictable, painful and, frankly, rather frightening. The better news is that it does tend to be fleeting, improving on its own over weeks, or months, and doesn’t cause long-term damage.

If you aren’t sure whether or not focal neuropathy is affecting your quality of life, these four signs will provide a good clue.

Vision problems

As mentioned, vision problems can be a sign that you have focal neuropathy. In addition to double vision, you might experience aching behind your eye or difficulty focusing. This occurs when one of your cranial nerves are affected. The cranial nerves, which are the 12 nerves that go directly from the brain to parts of your head and neck, carry sensation from your face, head, and neck to the brain. They also control the muscles in the face and throat, allowing you to see, hear, smell and taste, as well as to connect the balance center of your inner ear to the brain.

Drooping cheek

While many people believe the sudden paralysis on one side of the face, which causes it to droop, sometimes making it hard for you to close your eye on that side, is a sign of a stroke, in reality, there is no association. It can be a sign of focal neuropathy, however, as well as a number of other conditions. If you experience this, be sure to see your doctor right away so more serious causes can be ruled out.

Leg muscle pain

Focal neuropathy can also affect the legs, causing pain in very specific locations, such as in the front of your thigh, the outside of your shin or the inside of your foot. The soreness and pain may develop gradually, over a few weeks or months.

Weakness and pain in the back, chest or abdomen

Weakness and pain in the lower back that often extends to the thigh, and sometimes even causes paralysis, can be a sign of focal neuropathy. It can also cause pain in the band-shaped area around your chest or abdomen.

Just like it is highly important to know the signs of insulin resistance, it is important to know if you are suffering from focal neuropathy. Be sure to make an appointment with a health professional if you begin to experience any of the symptoms listed above.

-Be Well

12 Signs That You May be Insulin Resistant

Insulin is the hormone that facilitates the transport of glucose, or blood sugar, from the bloodstream and into the body’s cells to use for energy. After eating a meal, in response to the normal increase in blood sugar, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. If you become insulin resistant, the normal amount of insulin that’s secreted isn’t sufficient enough to carry blood sugar into the cells, so to compensate the pancreas continues to increase the amount of insulin secreted to help maintain adequate glucose movement into the cells, and a healthy blood sugar level.

If that sounds a bit too complicated, it can be summed up simply by saying, when insulin resistance occurs, your blood sugar level rises.

The problems with insulin resistance

While most people connect diabetes to the word insulin, problems with insulin can result in multiple different conditions in those with normal blood sugar levels, including:

  • heart attack
  • stroke
  • fatty liver
  • obesity
  • high cholesterol
  • high blood pressure

Being insulin resistant can also lead to the development of prediabetes or full on diabetes.

Prediabetes typically occurs in those who are already insulin resistant – while the condition alone doesn’t cause type 2 diabetes directly, it can set the stage for the disease due to the high demands it places on cells that produce insulin. When one has prediabetes, their cells are no longer able to produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance, resulting in blood glucose levels that are higher than normal.

Once someone has prediabetes, the continued loss of that proper cell functioning typically leads to type 2 diabetes, and over time, that can cause serious complications like stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, lower limb amputations and blindness.

12 signs you may be insulin resistant

Obviously, no one wants to be insulin resistant, but frighteningly one in three Americans are said to be affected by this condition, which happens to correlate with the country’s dismal rates of obesity – currently at 34.9 percent.

By being aware of the signs of insulin resistance, you can take action now, before it’s too late.

Obesity. Obesity, as noted, and especially abdominal obesity is a sign of being insulin resistant. That’s because that as your waist gets larger, insulin isn’t able to work in the body as it should, ultimately causing levels of this hormone to rise.

Sleepiness after a meal. As insulin is unable to do its job properly, your cells aren’t receiving the fuel they need, resulting in fatigue and sometimes extreme sleepiness especially after eating.

Craving carbohydrate-rich foods. If you’re insulin resistant, you may feel hungry constantly, and as carbs tend to be especially satisfying to an insatiable appetite, this is what you crave most often.

Brain fog. If you have an inability to focus, or trouble thinking, insulin resistance could be the cause. That’s because cells in the brain known as “microglia,” release inflammatory messages when you have the condition, creating a vicious cycle of brain fog that not only muddies the thoughts but can destroy brain tissue.

Complexion problems. If you have acne and large pores on your face, it could be because being insulin resistant promotes higher levels of testosterone and increased the sensitivity of the face to the male hormone, which makes you more susceptible to acne.

High blood pressure. Many people with hypertension are either pre-diabetic or diabetic, and have higher insulin levels due to insulin resistance as one of the insulin’s effects is to control arterial wall tension.

Elevated blood sugar levels. Having a fasting blood glucose level over 95mg/dL indicates insulin resistance. Studies have shown that those with a fasting blood sugar level in the upper limit of normal range (95 to 99mg/dL), were 2.33 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who tested at less than 85mg/dL.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome. This common endocrine system disorder among women of reproductive age is often linked to higher insulin levels.

Male pattern hair loss in women. Rendering insulin ineffective affects multiple body processes, including hair growth. A study published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Risk found that women with some markers of insulin resistance have a greater risk for androgenic alopecia or female pattern baldness.

Swollen ankles. Because insulin sends a message to your kidneys to hold onto water and sodium, you’ll look puffier, and may notice swollenness in the ankles as well the fingers, face, abdomen or other parts of the body.

Increased blood triglyceride levels. While having high triglycerides doesn’t cause diabetes, it does indicate insulin resistance, and that your system isn’t working properly when it comes to turning food into energy. When your cells don’t let insulin into your cells, both glucose and triglycerides build up in the blood.

Depression. Depression can be due to “deranged metabolism” that results from insulin resistance.

What to do now if you are insulin resistant

If you’re insulin resistant, the good news is that you can take control by addressing it now.

Lose weight. Even a small amount of weight loss can help to reduce insulin resistance. By following the diet and exercise tips that follow, weight loss is often a natural result.

Change your diet. Restrict your carbohydrate intake by eliminating processed and fast foods, instead focusing on getting your carbs from nuts and seeds, vegetables and small amounts of fruit. Include moderate amounts of healthy fats, from sources like avocados, coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil and nuts instead of following a strict low-fat diet. You should also include cold-water fish like wild-caught salmon, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids that can help combat the pro-inflammatory effects of insulin improving the cells’ response to the hormone.

Get regular exercise. Getting regular exercise is a must for a healthy body and mind, as well as combatting insulin resistance. Vigorous cardio exercise helps to decrease the cells’ resistance to insulin. Aim for 30 minutes per day, but if you haven’t been exercising, you’ll need to slowly work up to that amount. Also, don’t forget the value of resistance training. It all matters and will make a huge difference in how your body looks and feels.

-Be Well


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3 Early Symptoms of Diabetes

It’s important to pay attention to the signs and signals the body gives us. Diabetes has a number of early signs, but because they’re rather subtle, you might not notice, and, the longer you go without managing diabetes, the greater at risk you are for serious complications like blindness, amputation and heart disease.

Don’t let fear of the disease control you – instead, control it by being aware of these three early symptoms:

You’re urinating more often, and frequently feel parched. The average person typically has to urinate between four and seven times in a 24-hour period, but those with diabetes tend to go a lot more. That also makes one feel a lot more thirsty – then, you drink more, and pee more too.

You feel shaky and crave high-carb, sugary foods. If you have diabetes, it’s common to start feeling shaky and experience an immediate need for high-carb, often sugar-filled foods. That’s because when you have high blood sugar, the body has a problem regulating glucose.

Your vision is blurry. If your vision suddenly seems blurry, thankfully, it doesn’t mean impending blindness. In the early stages of diabetes, the lens of the eye has difficulty focusing because glucose builds up in the eye.

If or anyone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it is wise to make an appointment with a trusted physician.

– Be Well

 

 

My feet are always cold: What is wrong?

You are curled up beside the fire with a cup of tea. You have your cozy socks and slippers on and are snuggled up in a warm throw blanket. Everything is so perfect. But wait, why do your feet feel so cold? That doesn’t make any sense, they should feel toasty and warm. You take off your slippers and socks and your tootsies are incredibly warm to touch but they still feel cold. Has something like this ever happened to you?

It is common for most people to experience cold feet from time to time. However, if your feet are consistently cold, despite the weather or the fact that you have socks on, it could be a sign you are suffering from the early stages of neuropathy. This is especially true if your feet are not cold to touch but still feel cold. The word neuropathy simply means nerve disease or damage.

What are peripheral nerves?

There are two parts in the nervous system: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The nerves within the peripheral system are responsible for transmitting messages between the central nervous system and the brain and spinal cord along and the rest of your body.

The nerves have the vital job of regulating some functions within the body, including voluntary muscle movement, involuntary organ activity and perception of stimuli.

What is peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the nerves in the peripheral system ( outside of the brain and spinal cord) become damaged. This condition impacts the nerves in the extremities including toes, feet, legs, hands, and arms.

How does neuropathy make my feet cold?

Having diabetes increases your risk of developing neuropathy. In fact, upwards of 70% of diabetics will experience some form or another or neuropathy during their illness. Sensory nerve damage can cause symptoms including decreased sensation and the inability to feel temperature. Simply put, your feet may feel cold because of the damaged nerve fibers, even though it may seem like they should be warm.

What should I do?

Unfortunately, many people wait to be diagnosed with diabetes until they start to experience some form of diabetic neuropathy. So, in this case, neuropathy may be a warning sign that you are diabetic, and you need to seek medical attention. If you are already diabetic and are experiencing neuropathy, there are some things that you can do to alleviate the discomfort. Depending on how far along the condition has progressed, you may even be able to reverse it.

Of course, if you are a Type 2 diabetic, the best thing would be to change your diet and lifestyle so that you no longer have a blood glucose problem. Many people may not know it, but Type 2 diabetes is not a life sentence. With a proper diet and lifestyle, you can experience a complete and total healing from this condition.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, there are a few things you can do to help alleviate the discomfort:

  • Be sure to check your feet daily, tops, bottoms, and in between your toes. If you have a loss of sensation, you may not know if your feet have been damaged.
  • Spend a little more for high-quality shoes that fit.
  • Wash your feet daily in warm water – you can add a little Epsom salt for a soothing foot soak. Be sure to dry thoroughly.
  • Don’t go barefoot. Closed toe shoes with socks are best.
  • Check back with your doctor if you develop the feelings of pins and needles or lose the sensation in your feet.
  • Keep your toenails trimmed.

Most of all, don’t ignore your body and the signs it may be giving you. Excessive damage from neuropathy can be avoided, but only if you stay in touch with how you feel.

-Be Well