Neuropathy is a dysfunction of one (mononeuropathy), two or more nerves in different areas (multiple mononeuropathy) or many nerves (polyneuropathy) typically causing numbness, pain or weakness usually in hands and feet.

Nerves are classified into:

• Sensory nerves that receive sensation, such as temperature, pain, vibration or touch, from the skin.
• Motor nerves that control muscle movement.
• Autonomic nerves that control functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and bladder.

Symptoms

• Gradual onset of numbness, prickling or tingling in your feet or hands.
• Sharp, jabbing, throbbing, tingling, freezing or burning pain.
• Extreme sensitivity to touch.
• Lack of coordination with impairment of gait causing falls.
• Muscle weakness or paralysis.
• Heat intolerance and altered sweating.
• Bowel, bladder or digestive problems.
• Changes in blood pressure, causing dizziness or light-headedness.

Causes

• Vitamin deficiencies especially Vitamin B12, B1, B6, E and Niacin.
• Diabetes.
• Viral or bacterial infections as lyme disease, shingles, epstein-barr virus, hepatitis C, leprosy, diphtheria and HIV.
• Kidney and liver disease, connective tissue disorders and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
• Autoimmune diseases as Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and necrotizing vasculitis.
• Toxins as heavy metals or chemicals.
• Medications as chemotherapy.
• Inherited disorders as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are hereditary types of neuropathy.
• Trauma or pressure on the nerve resulting after having a cast or using crutches.
• Tumours and paraneoplastic syndromes (body's immune response on tumours).
• Bone marrow disorders as monoclonal gammopathies or lymphoma.

Complications

• Skin injuries and burns due to lack of feeling different temperature.
• Infections as not feeling injuries due to lack of sensibility.
• Falls due to imbalance.

Diagnosis

We at KindCare Medical Center are starting the diagnostic clarification by taking an extensive medical history addressing your symptoms, the trigger factors, the duration and the frequency, work environment, social habits, toxic exposure, risk of infectious diseases and family history of neurological disease. Check of vital signs such as blood pressure and pulse, followed by a proper physical examination with focus on musculoskeletal system and nerves. Additional laboratory tests, Electromyography (EMG), Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and sudoscan are completing the assessment for confirmation and ruling out underlying conditions.

Treatment

The approach at KindCare Medical Center is holistic trying to solve the underlying reason e.g. substitution of vitamins in case of vitamin deficiencies. In addition, antiepileptic drugs and topicals are prescribed for pain relief as well Serotonin re uptake inhibitors, which are interfering with chemical processes at brain modifying pain memory and the way how pain is felt, Alpha-lipoic acid and prime rose oil are used to improve the pain. Our offer at KindCare Medical Center is completed by physical therapy, acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and surgery to relief neuropathies caused by pressure on nerves.

Prevention

Make healthy lifestyle choices:

• Balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and protein.
• Boost your vitamin B-12 deposits by eating beef liver, fatty fish as salmon, sardines or mackerel, lamb, eggs, feta and cottage cheese.
• Exercise regularly 30 - 60 min. at least three times a week.
• Avoid factors that may cause nerve damage including repetitive motions, cramped positions, exposure to toxic chemicals, smoking and alcohol.