neuropathy

12 Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy
 Blog, Signs and Symptoms

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

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 Blog, Signs and Symptoms

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

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 Blog, Signs and Symptoms

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

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