What Is Neuropathy? How Do You Know You Have It? What Can You Do?
There’s a common misperception that the terms neuropathy and neuropathic pain are synonymous. Neuropathic pain, also known as neuralgia, is a specific type of pain, commonly caused by irritation, damage, or dysfunction involving a nerve. Neuropathy refers specifically to nerve damage. What are the different kinds of neuropathy and what are causes, symptoms, and treatments for neuropathy?
The Different Types of Neuropathies
While there are more than 100 different kinds of neuropathy, they all fall into one of the following categories:
- Diabetic neuropathy, commonly caused by either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and most often appearing in your hands and feet
- Autonomic neuropathy, where the nerve damage involves bodily organs and functions, such your bladder, sweat glands, heart, eyes, and sex organs
- Proximal neuropathy, where nerve damage is located in the stomach, chest, hips, buttocks, thighs, or legs
- Motor neuropathy, where nerves associated with motor skills and movement are affected, making it difficult to walk or hold on to things
- Focal nerve neuropathy, where the damage is to a single nerve, usually manifesting in numbness, tingling, or pain in a specific area
- Sensory neuropathy, focused on the hands, feet, arms, and legs
- Combination neuropathy, where you experience more than one kind of neuropathy at the same time
Neuropathy typically follows a trajectory, with early symptoms being mild and the more advanced stages involving muscle weakness or numbness, as well as pain.
What Are Symptoms of Neuropathy?
With peripheral neuropathy, you will experience extreme sensitivity to touch or discomfort, numbness, tingling, burning, prickling, stinging, or stabbing sensations. You can also expect some muscle weakness or unsteadiness, as well as discolored or thinning skin or loss of hair on the affected body part.
Autonomic neuropathy typically appears as changes in blood pressure or heart rate, increased sweating, dizziness or fainting, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction.
Contact Us To Schedule an Appointment with a Proven Pain Management Specialist
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with anyone suffering from acute or chronic pain. We have the experience, skills, and tools to accurately and quickly determine the extent of your injury and will either prescribe and monitor your care or refer you to a specialist, such as a physiatrist or neurologist, if necessary. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas, and San Antonio.
