Neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy, so called because the nerves affected are “peripheral” rather than the brain and spine, occurs when the connection between nerve and brain are disrupted. There are three main types of neuropathy: sensory, autonomic, and motor. The causes, treatment, and manifestations of each are different, but the basic development is similar.
There is no real cure for neuropathy because the damage can never be completely undone. It can be managed, even halted, and through medication and special treatment, and the quicker you get to a doctor, the better the outlook will be.
Sensory Neuropathy
Sensory nerves are responsible for so many things that there are quite a variety of symptoms; it depends on which type of sensory nerves are affected. According to the National Institute of Health, you may notice that you just don’t physically feel things as strongly, especially in the hands and feet (which touch things the most). Some people say it feels like they are wearing socks or gloves when bare handed or footed.
Heat and cold are also less noticeable, which can be dangerous. For example, you may not notice you’ve set your hand on a hot stove top, or you might unknowingly sustain a very serious injury, which can then become infected without proper care. Reflexes begin to stop being as responsive as they once were, and some people may experience a “loss of position sense,” which makes it difficult to do things like walking that require moving multiple parts of the body at once. Even staying balanced when the eyes are shut can be hard.
Autonomic
These symptoms change drastically depending on what bodily system is disrupted. The autonomic systems are those that do their business without any conscious help from us. Perspiration may be too little or too much, because the body can no longer moderate its temperature appropriately. You may suffer from constipation, diarrhea, or incontinence (inability to control the bladder); changes in blood pressure, especially when sitting or standing quickly, which can cause dizziness to the point of fainting; a heart rate that doesn’t change, even during exercise when it should increase; and even trouble with functions as simple as swallowing.
Motor
The motor nerves are in charge of making specific movements when you want to move parts of your body intentionally. The most commonly reported symptom of motor neuropathy is muscle weakness. This could be in just one area, especially since neuropathy generally sticks to one side of the body. The muscles may also suffer from cramping, numbness, or tingling sensations; muscle twitches under the skin may become more frequent.
Because of the weakness or pain associated with the area, atrophy (muscle shrinking) may occur, seemingly without cause or because you are unwilling to use that muscle and so it loses strength, thereby causing increased weakness. The symptoms of motor neuropathy can lead to quite a vicious circle. As in sensory neuropathy, the reflexes may lose their luster.
