5 Signs You’re Dealing with Neuropathy

Numbness and tingling in your hands and feet aren't normal and can signal various medical problems. Neuropathy is one of the major issues that lead to these symptoms.

Peripheral neuropathy is a common disease that leads to nerve damage in the hands and feet. People living with diabetes are more likely to suffer from this condition.

If you're at risk for neuropathy, you must understand the signs and symptoms to get treatment as soon as you notice a problem.

The team at Advanced Integrated Medical offers diagnostic tools and treatments for patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Dee S. Stevens is our functional medicine specialist who helps you understand neuropathy and how to treat it.

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a condition that affects the nerves in the body, often causing pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Neuropathy can affect any set of nerves but is most common in the peripheral nerves in the feet and hands.

Various conditions can lead to neuropathy, including diabetes and genetics. Injuries and certain infections can also cause neuropathy to occur.

The peripheral nerves are those farthest from the brain and spinal cord. When neuropathy affects these nerves, the symptoms appear earlier and more severe than other forms of neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy can occur suddenly because of an injury or over time from other conditions. Most medical diseases that cause neuropathy take months to years for nerve damage to occur.

Risk factors for neuropathy

Nerve damage happens for various reasons, including type 2 diabetes. People living with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk for neuropathy related to high blood glucose levels, which leads to nerve damage over time.

However, diabetes isn't the only condition that puts you at risk for neuropathy. Some of the other issues that put you at risk for neuropathy include the following:

• Alcohol use disorder
• Autoimmune diseases
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Genetic problems
• Infections
• Medications
• Trauma
• Surgery
• Vascular disorders

Sometimes neuropathy happens for no reason at all. This form of neuropathy is known as idiopathic neuropathy when we can't find the root cause of the issue.

Five tell-tale signs of neuropathy

If you're concerned about neuropathy, knowing the signs is essential. The sooner you recognize the symptoms of neuropathy, the sooner you can seek treatment. Five of the common signs that signal neuropathy include the following:

1. Muscle weakness

Deterioration of the nerves due to neuropathy causes weakness in the surrounding muscles. Paralysis and muscle atrophy can happen in severe cases of neuropathy.

2. Tingling in hands and feet

Tingling is a sensory symptom that happens when something damages the nerves that send signals to the brain.

3. Numbness in hands and feet

Damaged nerves can't send and receive sensory signals, which leads to numbness in the hands and feet with peripheral neuropathy. You may sometimes be unable to feel the texture or hot and cold.

4. Pain

Nerve damage from neuropathy causes pain when the nerves intensify pain signals or allow them to happen easily. The pain can be severe or come and go.

5. Balance problems

The nerves in your hands and feet also tell your brain to stay balanced. When something damages these nerves, you may have trouble keeping your balance and using your hands.

If you're struggling with neuropathy, don't hesitate to call one of our conveniently located offices in Utah today, or request an appointment on this website.