Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy currently challenges 20 million people in the United States.  What are the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy and what can be done to reverse them? Identifying the cause of peripheral neuropathy is the first step to effective, long-lasting treatment.

Quick Facts About Peripheral Neuropathy

In order to confront peripheral neuropathy efficiently, you first have to understand it. Consider the following quick facts about the condition provided by Medical New Today:

• Neuropathy is a common complication of a number of different medical conditions.
• Neuropathy can involve the autonomic nerves, the motor nerves, and the sensory nerves.
• Sometimes neuropathy affects a single nerve or nerve set, for example, in Bell’s Palsy, which affects a facial nerve.
• Physical trauma, repetitive injury, infection, metabolic problems, and exposure to toxins and some drugs are all possible causes.

Diabetes is at the Heart of Most PN Cases

Diabetes is the most common cause of chronic peripheral neuropathy. High blood sugar levels damage the nerves resulting in varying neuropathy symptoms. Second to diabetes other common causes of peripheral neuropathy are:

• Infections: Shingles, HIV infection, Lyme disease, and others can lead to nerve damage.
• Guillain-Barré syndrome: This is a specific type of peripheral neuropathy, triggered by infection.
• Some autoimmune disorders ( rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus)
• Chronic kidney disease: kidney dysfunction triggers an imbalance of salts and chemicals which can cause peripheral neuropathy.
• Injuries: Broken bones and accompanying casts can pressure directly nerves
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Various drugs (chemotherapy and HIV treatment)
• B12 or folate vitamin deficiencies
• Poisons (insecticides and solvents)
• Cancer (lymphoma and multiple myeloma)
• Chronic liver disease
• Neuromas (benign tumors that affect nerve tissue)

Injured Blood Vessels

Other neuropathic origins involve damage to your small blood vessels. Small blood vessels reduce the amount of blood reaching your nerves.  If nerves lack the necessary blood stores for repair and maintenance, tissue damage results. This nerve tissue damage can cause your peripheral neuropathy symptoms.

Neuropathy Treatment Protocols

There is a better way to treat your peripheral neuropathy symptoms then turning to prescription painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. A comprehensive evaluation of your neuropathy symptoms and causes can help you avoid the negative side effects of medications. Focus on identifying the underlying cause of your symptoms to find ultimate success.  

Treat the Triggers to Help Eradicate Symptoms

Controlling blood sugar levels, treating alcohol abuse, improving one’s nutrition, treating or managing autoimmune diseases, correcting the spinal, muscle or bone structural abnormalities through non-invasive, chiropractic therapies are some of the solid treatment strategies that need to be implemented in individual cases depending on the cause of neuropathy.

Reduce nerve irritation by Improve Nerve Blood Flow

One thing that all neuropathies have in common is dysfunctional blood flow to the nerve. Treatment strategies should focus on helping the nerve regain its function by restoring its normal blood flow and then removing whatever is irritating the nerve.

Rehabilitation for Long-Lasting Recovery

By incorporating medical treatment with rehabilitation you can find long-lasting relief from neuropathy symptoms. Lifestyle adjustments, solid nutritional modifications and treatment of collateral medical problems are a healthy foundation of peripheral neuropathy treatment plans.