Peripheral Neuropathy refers to the damage done to the peripheral nerves. This damage can be attributed to at least 100 different diseases. If you have been diagnosed with this condition, you need to seek urgent medical attention.
What’s damaged?
As earlier stated, this condition involves damage around the nerves. This could occur at either the axon or in the myelin sheath itself. In addition to damage on both the axon and myelin or both, the condition can also affect various nerve types.
Symptoms linked to Peripheral Neuropathy vary and mainly depend on the location of the nerve damages and underlying causes. More often than not, a change in sensation is often the first symptom most people notice.
From there, it could further develop and increase the ability to sense vibrations, temperature, and eventually complete sensory loss. Sadly, it’s common for patients to experience severe pain within the affected area. This is worse at night.
Treatment
The treatment approach can be broken into three main areas. These are:
- Correcting the underlying causes of the Neuropathy. When done early enough, the disease can be slowed down, therefore stopping or at times reversing any sustained damages.
- Once treated, it’s vital to create a favorable environment for healing to progress uninterruptedly. This means adopting a healthy lifestyle, including getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep.
- During the healing process, it’s crucial to deal with any symptoms. Initial pain control with over-the-counter Acetaminophen and Analgesics is sometimes helpful. However, if the pain persists, then you’ll have a stronger prescription.
If you suspect that you may be suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy, don’t suffer in silence; visit a certified specialist to get much-needed relief.