Peripheral Neuropathy is a fairly common disease in United States. Peripheral Neuropathy results from the damage to peripheral nerves and may affect both sensory and motor functions of the nerve. There are innumerable causes of peripheral neuropathy and symptoms vary depending upon the degree of involvement of nerve and which nerve is involved. Peripheral neuropathy may have profound effect on one's lifestyle.
Diabetic neuropathy has myriad presentations. One very common form being loss of sensations in glove-stocking distribution in which there is loss of sensations in the distal portions of both upper and lower limbs. This problem may greatly alter a person's lifestyle both at work and at home. Affected people may find it difficult to drive vehicles as they have lost sensations in the feet. In fact, the loss of sensation is so troublesome that they may get injuries and not be aware of it. Such wounds don't heal quickly and may form ulcers and also get secondarily infected. Sometimes the infections may be so severe to warrant an immediate amputation to save life. Loss of sensations in hands also has profound effect on a person's lifestyle. Patient may burn his hands while cooking and not know of it until he or she sees it. Also may not able to perform simple tasks like writing and knitting. If the neuropathy also affects the muscles of the hand, the functional impairment is more profound. Many a times neuropathy presents with severe pain which often becomes worse at night and keeps a person awake. This is very troublesome not only because of pain but also lack of sleep which impairs a person daytime functioning.
Involvement of the nerves of autonomic nervous system may sometimes result in severe problems. Neuropathy affecting the autonomic nerves carrying innervations to heart and blood vessels may cause "postural hypotension". In this condition, the blood pressure of a person falls suddenly when a person stands up from a lying down or sitting position and the person may develop sudden dizziness and momentary loss of consciousness along with many other symptoms. This places a person at risk for sudden fall and the person has to be very cautious.
Autonomic Neuropathy may also cause sexual dysfunction. Diabetic neuropathy is a well-known cause of impotence. Other than impotence, the autonomic dysfunction may also result in retrograde ejaculation, a condition in which the semen is ejaculated into the bladder. A person's sexual life may be greatly disturbed by this.
Autonomic dysfunction associated with neuropathy may also result in urinary incontinence and sometimes even fecal incontinence. Urinary incontinence is involuntary leakage of the urine. This problem may drastically alter the lifestyle of a person. People afflicted with this problem tend to avoid all social gatherings and try to stay at home as much as possible due to fear of embarrassment.
Hence the treatment of neuropathy in the early stages when it is still reversible or at least stalling its further progression whenever possible is of paramount importance. Depending upon the cause of neuropathy numerous therapeutic options are available in most of the cases.
Dr. Gerry Hinley, D.C. decided to become a chiropractor after a disabling injury in college. Dr. Hinley believes Chiropractic's philosophy that teaches a person heals from within, without drugs, surgery or their harmful side effects. After years of service in chiropractic he is now owner and clinic director for Integrative Physical Medicine of Chicago.
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