ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Neuropathies

What is neuropathies?

4 May 2021

This condition, also known as peripheral neuropathy, is the product of injuries to the peripheral nerves, which receive signals from the brain and spinal cord and transmit them to the body, causing lack of strength, stiffness, pain, and inflammation in various parts of the body, especially in feet and hands, although it is also possible to affect blood circulation, the digestive process, and urination.

When the neuropathy affects a single nerve it is called mononeuropathy, if it damages two or more nerves in different areas it is known as multiple mononeuropathy; while if multiple nerves are damaged, it is called polyneuropathy.

When the cause cannot be identified, it is an idiopathic neuropathy. However, among the most common causes of this condition are:

  • Bone marrow diseases.
  • Hypothyroidism.
  • Kidney or liver failure.
  • Alcoholism.
  • Smoking.
  • Chemical poisoning.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Trauma or injuries.
  • Lack of vitamin B, E, and niacin.
  • Autoimmune conditions such as lupus, arthritis, vasculitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
  • Diabetes.
  • Viral or bacterial infections.
  • Hereditary conditions
  • Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.

Signs and symptoms Neuropathies

The symptoms depend on the affected nerves, but generally, they are the following: 

  • Stiffness and tingling in the hands and feet, whose sensation radiates to the arms and legs.
  • Discomfort or pain in the affected areas.
  • Tactile hypersensitivity.
  • Movement difficulty and lack of coordination.
  • Weakness.

When you experience some of these symptoms, you must see your doctor for prompt diagnosis and treatment, thus avoiding possible complications and further damage to the peripheral nervous system.

Diagnosis and treatment Neuropathies

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical and neurological examination, in addition to requesting blood tests, computed tomography, MRI, electromyography, and nerve and skin biopsies.

Treatment focuses on controlling the direct cause and minimizing symptoms, especially neuropathic pain, for which you will be prescribed painkillers, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants.

Depending on your case, several procedures and therapies offer an effective alternatives for symptom control, such as:   

  • Immunoglobulin therapy.
  • Blood plasma replacement.
  • Physical therapy.
  • Transcutaneous electrical stimulation.
  • Surgical procedures.

At the Neurological Center, a select group of highly trained and certified doctors in the various neurological specialties are ready to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.

Specialists Neuropathies

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Spine surgery
  • Pediatric neurosurgery
  • Neurophysiology
  • Neuro-rehabilitation
  • Neuro-pathology
  • Interventional neuro-radiology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Neuro-otology
  • Epilepsy
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Neuroimaging

Related centers and departments Neuropathies

Neurology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • clevelandclinic.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • mayocilinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • niddk.nih.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • Fortún PA, Campo DMC. Función de la amiloidosis en la neuropatía periférica de los pacientes con anemia drepanocítica. Rev cubana med. 2018;57(2):1-9.
  • Domínguez CLG, Arellano AG. Neuropatía alcohólica. Acta Med. 2018;16(2):145-148.
  • Morales-Hernández AE, Valdez- Rojas L, Hernández-Salcedo DR. Gammapatía monoclonal de significado incierto asociada con neuropatía periférica. Med Int Mex. 2016;32(1):129-145.
  • Cárdenas FFJ, Amezcua HC, Calvo RM, et al. Imagen de Resonancia Magnética en pacientes con neuropatía periférica asociada a gota tofacea. Anales de Radiología México. 2004;3(2):107-114.

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