There are two types of symptoms associated with periphreal neuropathy - negative and positive.
Negative signs, which appear first, occur when damage to the nervous system causes a loss of a particular function. For example:
- loss of reflexes
- loss of strength
- loss of sensation i.e. light touc
After some time passes, the damaged nerves develop the positive signs of neuropathy which usually are described as:
- tingling
- burning sensation
- burning sensation
- stabbing feeling
- shooting pains
Neuropathy is actually a symptom and a condition. Essentially, it is a short-circuit in the electrical impulses caused by damage to nerves. Symptoms vary in intensity and can be extremely painful to completely numbing and everything in between. Neuropathy can be caused by medical problems like diabetes but most cases are lableled "idiopathic" which means the cause s unknown.
At its extreme, neuropathy is terrribly painful. Foe some patients thre is a tingling in the toes, feet, hands, or fingers as though they fell asleep. Others describe neuropathic pains as feeling like hundreds of bees stinging.
Some neuropathies come on suddenly while some develop gradually over years. When neuropathy presents as weakness in the arms and legs, it can be difficult for the sufferer to stand, walk or get out of a chair. The loss of sensation from the feet, ankles and toes contributes to patients not having a good sense of where their feet are in space and this can contribute to falls. Often, these sensory losses are only detected during a proper neurological exam.
Unfortunately, some neuropathy sufferers can become unable to walk at all. Sleeping can become difficult because even the weight of a sheet can cause severe pain. Without treatment, the symptoms of neuropathy typically worsen with time.
It is difficult for someone who has not experiencenced the symptoms of neuropathy to fully appreciate their severity. Friends and loved ones may not be as sympathetic because the sufferer usually will "look fine". This is one reason Dr. Frank Lanzisera of Tampa presents seminars on neuropathy - he wants to help the sufferer and their loved understand the causes and natural treatment options for neuropathy. Dr. Lanzisera has created a Neuropathy Recovery Program that helps those with chronic neuropathic symptoms.To learn more about neuropathy or to register for a neuropathy seminar log on to www.tampaneuropathy.com or call 813-253-2333. We are here to help.
There is hope for neuropathy sufferers.