Peripheral Neuropathy: When some Senses fail to Act

in StemSocial5 months ago

There is nothing as great as having all your senses working perfectly you know what I mean, that you can feel, smell, and taste, I believe it is something to thank Mother Nature for, but then again if something goes wrong, we also have improved science to thank for all the advance technologies that can be used to medically rectify these unfortunate situations when they happen.

Peripheral neuropathy is a term used to classify generally, any condition that affects cells that exist outside the brain or spinal cord, this incidence can happen for various reasons, ranging from the likes of infections, trauma, and other inherited conditions.


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With the presence of peripheral neuropathy comes numbness, pain, and weakness usually affecting the feet and hands, other areas and functions of the body could be affected also, and this includes urination and digestion.

The topic of discussion is, "PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY", which means it has to do with the peripheral nervous system, so let me talk about that as well. The peripheral nervous system can send information from the spinal cord and the brain to the rest of the body through motor nerves. The peripheral nerves can also send sensory information to the central nervous system through sensory nerves.


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Peripheral neuropathy can come from infections, metabolic problems, traumatic injuries, exposure to toxins, and inherited problems. The most common causative factor of neuropathy is diabetes. Those who experience this condition often describe the pain as being, tingling, burning, or stabbing.

The symptoms experienced also depend on the nerves affected, so let's check out the nerves we have;

  • Sensory nerves are available for receiving sensations like pain, vibration or touch, and temperature from the skin.

  • Autonomic nerves that control blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, sweating, and bladder function.

  • Then, there are the motor nerves that control muscle movements.

I mentioned briefly, the possible causes of peripheral neuropathy above, but here are actually certain health conditions that have the ability to cause peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which I mentioned to be one of the most common triggers, it is said that among people who have diabetes, over half of them would develop some form of neuropathy.

Infections which may be bacterial or viral can also cause this condition we are talking about, it comes in the form of hepatitis B and C, HIV, diphtheria, leprosy, shingles, and Lyme disease.


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Inherited conditions: Some disorders are inherited and could cause peripheral neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a good example of neuropathy that runs within families.

Bone marrow disorders: Include protein in the blood that isn't there usually, it is called monoclonal gammopathies, it is a rare form of myeloma that affects the bones.

Other diseases including metabolic conditions like liver or kidney diseases could be a causative factor of the condition also.

Apart from possible health conditions, there are other causes which include;
Exposure to poisons in the form of toxic substances like heavy metals, and industrial chemicals as well.

Certain medications, especially the type used for chemotherapy can cause peripheral neuropathy.

Pressure or injury on the nerve from the likes of motor vehicle accidents, and sports injuries can cause severe damage.

When a person begins to show symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, you would notice;

  • Muscle weakness.

  • Extreme sensitivity to touch.

  • A feeling of putting on gloves when you are not.

  • Pain while engaging in activities that should naturally not cause pain.

  • A sharp, throbbing, burning, or jabbing type of pain.

  • Inability to move as well.

If not handled medically on time, there are chances of complications and things getting out of hand.

There could be injuries or burns on the feet or other parts of the body that you wouldn't even feel because the nerves in that region have a problem.

It could also create episodes of imbalance and falls, which could be severe in an imaginary situation of wet ground on tiles and heating the head.

As I regularly say, the best method of treatment is prevention, if we can prevent certain situations from happening, then we would not have to worry about treatment. Although in some cases, where it is a hereditary situation, it may not be something that can be controlled.

Get to exercise constantly, the help of a professional to guide you is an even better idea, try that at least three times a week. Avoid things that can cause damage to the nerve like exposure to toxic chemicals, taking alcohol excessively, and smoking. The choice to eat a diet-rich food with lots of vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein also helps in keeping the nerves healthy.

There is also an available vaccine that can help prevent nerve damage that is related to shingles, it is highly effective and very much recommended for everyone who is over 50 years.
Neuropathy peripheral does not need to consider your age or societal status before it strikes, it can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, and ethnicity. However, some people are at higher risk of peripheral neuropathy as it is common with some age-related diseases.
The development of peripheral neuropathy depends on what causes it, injuries can make it develop instantaneously within minutes or hours.

In terms of treatment, it is once again dependent on the type and causes. If an underlying issue can be sorted and corrected, it is most likely for neuropathy to get resolved on its own. Lifestyle habits being corrected can also reduce and most likely eliminate neuropathy.

For Further Studies.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14737-peripheral-neuropathy

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/peripheral-neuropathy

https://www.healthline.com/health/peripheral-neuropathy#diagnosis



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Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. If you want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel where you can watch any episode for free, please do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.

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