{"id":3689,"date":"2019-02-05T08:04:42","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T08:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=3689"},"modified":"2021-05-27T13:06:25","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T13:06:25","slug":"16-most-common-neuropathy-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/16-most-common-neuropathy-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Most Common Neuropathy Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you have experienced tingling, numbness, or sharp pains in your feet or in your hands, it is likely that you have experienced neuropathy. Neuropathy does not refer to a singular condition, but rather from nerve damage that may be caused by a number of different things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many different things that can cause damage to the nerves and because of this the symptoms of neuropathy will vary from person to person. If neuropathy is not treated it can escalate to a point where it hinders the quality of life of a person. The good news is that there are several lifestyle changes that can be made in order to reverse or slow down the progression and symptoms caused by nerve damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to detect neuropathy early, it is important to understand some of the most common symptoms of the condition. Here are 8 of the most common neuropathy symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pain that is experienced from neuropathy<\/a> is typically very specific. This pain is most often described as a throbbing, burning, or stabbing sensation. No matter how it feels, this pain is hard to ignore. Pain from neuropathy occurs because the fibers of the nerves have been damaged. These damaged fibers will then send out signals that are jumbled or incorrect to the different pain centers of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain occurs in different areas of the body based on the type of neuropathy that has developed. For people who have diabetes, neuropathy will most often appear in the feet first. Neuropathy that is caused by an injury or some type of trauma will occur at the place the injury occurred. Pain in the wrist and arm caused by carpal tunnel syndrome is one example. If you experience this type of pain it is important to discuss it with your doctor to determine the underlying cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Numbness and Tingling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the sensory nerves<\/a> have been damaged because of neuropathy, tingling or a feeling of numbness are quite common. Numbness will often occur in the feet first and then work its way up through the rest of the body. For example, a person may experience numbness in their feet first and then this numbness will spread into the legs. Numbness may also start in the hands and then move into the arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people do not think too much about numbness as it will often go away. However, it can be a sign of a serious problem for several reasons. You are more likely to become injured because you cannot feel a part of your body. For example, if your foot becomes numb and you step on something sharp, you may lose quite a bit of blood before you even notice. Diabetics often risk losing afoot because of this type of injury that they simply do not feel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Foot Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A person who has neuropathy may experience major issues with their feet. Any foot issues a person is experiencing is often a sign of diabetic <\/a>neuropathy. When numbness in the feet occurs it compounds many of the other issues that a diabetic is facing as it increases the risk for developing a severe injury or an infection. In addition, nerve damage that is associated with neuropathy may also cause the size and shape of a person\u2019s foot to change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These changes may make it difficult for a person to wear normal shoes. If a person wears normal shoes, it increases the risk of developing ulcers. An ulcer can cause many types of complications from severe pain to an increased risk for infection. In some of the extreme cases, a person may need to have their feet or a foot amputated because of this. If you are having issues with your feet, see a medical professional right away to determine the cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Digestive Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are some types of neuropathy that have an effect on the sensory nerves. Other types of neuropathy can affect autonomic nerves. These are the nerves that control the organs. There are some nerves that control digestive organs. When these nerves become damaged it can cause a person to experience digestive issues. One symptom of this type of nerve damage is constipation<\/a>. In some cases a person may experience the opposite and have severe diarrhea if these nerves are damaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also quite common for people to alternate these issues, experiencing diarrhea followed by constipation. Neuropathy may also cause issues with the nerves that control a person\u2019s bladder. This may lead to symptoms like incontinence or an increase in urinary tract infections. Stomach issues may also be caused by neuropathy. Gastroparesis, which is when the stomach is slow to empty is a common symptom that may occur with neuropathy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Body Temperature Regulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a person has damage to their nerves, they may find that they have difficulty controlling the temperature <\/a>of their body. A person may have difficulty sweating, even when it is hot. They may also have the opposite issue where they simply sweat uncontrollably. For some people, a high external temperature can be quite unbearable. The reason for this is because their bodies can no longer effectively find a way to cool off when it is hot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people may experience cold chills and feel like they are never going to be warm again. All of these are signs that a person has some type of nerve damage. In order to determine the underlying cause it is important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Once the cause of this symptom is known, proper treatment can be provided in order to make you much more comfortable in the long term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Muscle Weakness and Spasm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neuropathy can affect the nerves that are responsible for controlling the movements of the muscles<\/a>. One of the common symptoms of this type of neuropathy is a twitch in the muscle. Some people experience cramping as a symptom when this occurs. Some people who have hereditary neuropathy are more likely to also develop the symptom of weakness in the muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The muscles in the body might simply atrophy or waste away. Moving or even just standing up can become quite challenging. In a severe case of nerve damage, a person who has developed motor neuropathy can experience a paralysis in certain muscle areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another type of neuropathy associated with diabetes can lead to atrophy or muscle weakness. This type is called radiculoplexus and typically occurs in the buttocks and thighs. This most often will occur on one side of the body or the other. Standing up after sitting for a long period can be a struggle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Fainting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The autonomic nerves control the blood pressure as well as your heart <\/a>rate. When the nerves become damaged it is common for a person to experience a sudden drop in their blood pressure. This will often happen when a person gets up from lying down or simply from standing up from sitting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This quick drop in the blood pressure may cause a person to feel dizzy and in some cases, they may actually faint. It is common for someone to get up to fast and feel a little dizzy. This is something almost everyone has experienced at some point or another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if this occurs quite often and a person does actually faint after simply standing up from a sitting or a lying down position, there is a good chance that it is caused by some type of nerve damage. If you are experiencing this symptom it is important to see your doctor right away to determine the cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Hypoglycemia Unawareness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common neuropathy types. For this reason, it is important to consider one of the symptoms that only affects diabetics. Hypoglycemia unawareness occurs when blood sugar levels fall to dangerous levels and the body does not experience symptoms that are normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In normal circumstances, when the blood sugar levels drop suddenly the body will release epinephrine. This will make the person experience heart palpitations <\/a>or sweat profusely. These are common signs of having low blood sugar. However, when a person is suffering from hypoglycemia unawareness, the epinephrine does not get released when the levels of blood sugar fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this happens and a person does not do anything to raise the levels of blood sugar, loss of consciousness or confusion may occur. This symptom most often occurs with the epinephrine response nerves have been damaged. It is most common in people who have type 1 diabetes, but can be experienced by those with type 2 diabetes as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Deferred Pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Deferred pain means that the pain you are feeling isn\u2019t necessary at the site of the damage or sensitivity<\/a>. In other words, it means that you might have an issue with your back, but this is then in fact felt in your legs or your hip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of reasons that you might get deferred pain. One is that you might have a muscular imbalance. For instance, if you have a very tight muscle in your back or part of your legs, then this can cause tension on the joints or on another part of your body. That then might cause you to take up a corrective stance, so that you are walking and moving with poor form. The pain might be felt somewhere completely different therefore! And interestingly, studies looking at the role of fascia in the body demonstrate this interaction might be even more complex than we at first thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what\u2019s also possible is that this is a sign of neuropathy. Remember, you have a huge network of nerves running throughout your body, some of which are very long. That means that damaging one nerve might cause shockwaves of pain that travel throughout your body and you may therefore feel the discomfort somewhere entirely different.
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10. Loss of Vision<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neuropathy is not a single condition but is rather a symptom that can occur for a myriad of reasons. Likewise, neuropathy can describe damage to nerves <\/a>located anywhere in your body, and with a wide range of different important purposes. This can make it difficult to diagnose the original problem, or even to identify whether the issue is indeed best described as neuropathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loss of vision is an example of this. You can suffer a loss of vision as a result of damage to the nerves in the eye. These relay signals between your brain and your retina \u2013 and in fact, some people even describe the eye as the only \u2018external part of the brain\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons that you can experience damage to the nerves in the eye. One of the most common though is diabetes. Diabetes is caused by an increase in sugar in the blood, which in turn is due to changes in insulin production. Because sugar is actually very damaging in large quantities, this can then actually be enough to cause significant damage to the nerves \u2013 which leads to tingling in the hands and even loss of vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Coldness<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neuropathy doesn\u2019t just describe pain in the nerves, but any kind of upset. Remember, your nerves play a number of important jobs \u2013 helping to transmit messages to and from the brain<\/a>, and also helping to control your movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One aspect of this is to help your body understand the ambient temperature of its surroundings. To do this, your nerves, of course, transmit information about heat and respond to changes in the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why damage to the nerves \u2013 either long-term or short \u2013 can lead to a feeling of being very cold in that area. This is also why your arm feels very cold if you spend too long sitting on it!
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12. Total Loss of Movement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of which, have you ever woken from your sleep in the middle of the night to find that you are completely unable to move and that your arms feel like complete dead weights? Perhaps it just happens to one, or maybe it happens to them both simultaneously. Either way, you can feel completely helpless and even in a little bit of pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This loss of movement <\/a>is actually caused by the nerves in your arms being completely deadened, which prevents you from being able to send signals there. It\u2019s common to think of neuropathy of making you lose dexterity and fine motor control, but it may come as a surprise to learn that it can leave limbs entirely motionless!
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13. Loss of Bladder Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, it\u2019s also important to remember that your nerves control all the other processes in your body that you don\u2019t preside over consciously. That means things like your heartbeat, things like breathing, and yes \u2013 things like going to the toilet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you might have guessed then, anything from fainting<\/a>, to indigestion, to heart attacks can actually be due to forms of neuropathy. But one of the more common signs is that you lose control over your bladder. This can occur because you lose muscle tone in the area responsible for holding the bladder closed, or it can occur because you lose information returning from <\/em>the bladder to tell you whether it is full or not. Either way, neuropathy can cause you to suddenly go to the toilet without warning \u2013 and this can actually be quite scary. The same is true for a number of the other symptoms as well, such as slurred speech, or drooping features.
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14. Extreme Sensitivity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sign of neuropathy is that you have extreme sensitivity <\/a>in one area, or throughout your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again to go back to the example of the \u2018dead leg\u2019; if you have ever experienced this, then you will know that the slightest touch can cause shockwaves of pins and needles. The reason for this is that neurons and nerves act on a binary basis. That is to say that they are either \u2018on\u2019 (firing) or \u2018off\u2019. In order to fire though, they must first surpass an activation threshold. As they receive more and more signals, they eventually get excited beyond this point, and that is when they will fire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The point of this is that neuropathy can simply cause your nerves to become more \u2018excited\u2019. That means that they no longer need the same amount of stimulation to fire, which in turn means that the slightest touch can actually cause them to go seemingly haywire.
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15. Sciatica<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sciatica <\/a>is not a symptom of neuropathy but rather a condition that is closely linked with it. Sciatica is a form of neuropathy that specifically affects the sciatic nerve \u2013 the large nerve that travels down the back and through the legs. This passes through the small of the back in particular though, and when you bend or move, this can cause that area to become irritated or inflamed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the sciatic nerve is such a large one, this can then cause a lot of deferred pain and tingling, which is often felt in the legs and the buttocks. It\u2019s often a chronic condition, caused by a slipped disk or another back issue.
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16. Brain Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, brain changes can also occur as a result of neuropathy. Remember that your brain is made up of billions of neurons, which are effectively just nerves. These are where the messages throughout your body start, and it is only by starting here, that you\u2019re able to send those messages where they need to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus you might feel tired, dizzy, or even experience mood swings <\/a>as a result of neuropathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And not only that, but you might experience a specific form of \u2018brain neuropathy\u2019 called cranial neuropathy. This affects the brain stem, and can, therefore, cause pain and discomfort across your entire body \u2013 often making your skin extremely sensitive to touch for example, and leading to pins and needles all over.
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