Have you ever experienced chronic numbness, tingling, burning, pain or muscle weakness in your hands and feet? That is called neuropathy.
According to the Neuropathy Association, an estimated 20 million Americans – or one in 15 – suffer from it every day¹.
Neuropathy may be the most common medical condition you don’t know about, and there is currently no cure for it.
Neuropathy can either be inherited or acquired. Acquired types are caused by physical injury to a nerve, autoimmune responses, tumors, toxins, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism and vascular and metabolic disorders like diabetes.
About one third of all neuropathy cases are caused by diabetes, and the Diabetes Association estimates that 30 to 50 percent of diabetics will eventually get neuropathy.²
Neuropathy is a disorder of the peripheral nervous system, which is the vehicle that allows communication from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. The peripheral nervous system also transmits sensory information back to the brain (for example, when your hands are cold or your feet are touching something sharp).
When the peripheral nervous system is damaged, these messages cannot be transmitted properly.
Think about the kind of TV reception you would have, for instance, if the power cord from the wall to the TV was frayed or damaged. With neuropathy, the transmission of messages between the brain and body is similarly affected.
There is a wide array of symptoms in neuropathy because every nerve has a specialized function in the body. People will be affected differently depending on where the nerve is damaged and to what degree.
The most common symptoms are numbness, tingling and pricking sensations, sensitivity to touch and muscle weakness. Other people have more extreme symptoms like burning pain (especially at night), muscle wasting, paralysis and organ or gland dysfunction.
If you suspect you may have neuropathy, it is best to go see a neurologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is through a neurological exam, patient history, nerve and muscle tests and blood tests.
Other tests may be ordered to determine the extent of the neuropathy. These tests include electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies (NCV), CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nerve biopsy and skin biopsy.
While there is currently no cure for neuropathy, there are many treatments that can alleviate symptoms and help many patients lead comfortable and meaningful lives. Therapies depend on the cause of the neuropathy and the symptoms.
In general, adopting a healthy lifestyle is important. This includes maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding exposure to toxins, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, not smoking and vigilantly caring for feet.
For diabetic-caused neuropathy, strict control of blood sugar is critical to reducing symptoms.
For inflammatory neuropathies, immunoglobulin therapy and immunosuppressive drugs often keep symptoms at bay.
For painful neuropathies, therapies include medication, physical therapy, complementary medicine (acupuncture, herbal medicine), behavioral programs, surgical intervention, neurostimulation and neuroablation.
In addition to treatment under the care of a neurologist, there is help in areas around the state to support patients and family members with neuropathy.
In the Austin metropolitan area, Hands Feet & Heart – the Texas chapter of the Neuropathy Association – is a nonprofit organization formed in 2010 to provide education, resources and emotional support to those diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, and to help them live meaningful and productive lives.
The organization also promotes awareness and early diagnosis of neuropathy for the entire Austin community. Hands Feet & Heart’s support group meets on the second Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church (7127 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78746).
For more information, visit www.handsfeetheart.org or www.neuropathy.org, or contact Nancy Herlin at 512-784-2627.
In the New Braunfels area, the Alamo Area Neuropathy Group provides support and information to neuropathy patients monthly on Mondays. For more information, contact William Thomas at www.neuropathy.org or 830-865-1300.
In San Antonio, the Neuropathy Support Group of San Antonio meets the third Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 pm. Contact Michael McCauley at mikemcc@texas.net for more information.
All groups are affiliated with the Neuropathy Association, the national organization serving the peripheral neuropathy community. For more information, visit www.neuropathy.org.
Sources:
- The Neuropathy Association (www.neuropathy.org)
- The Center for Peripheral Neuropathy, the University of Chicago
