Pain, Numbness, Tingling and Burning - What They Might Mean

If you suffer from the chronic pain and sensations caused by peripheral neuropathy, you already know that they can change your whole lifestyle. The tingling, numbness, aches, and the trouble with certain motor functions that can accompany neuropathy (a common type of nerve damage) can conspire to make even everyday activities a painful hassle.

So what causes neuropathy, and how can you tell the difference between symptoms of neuropathy and other problems that can cause similar pain? The answer can be complicated, which is why neuropathy is understandably misdiagnosed in many sufferers when it is masquerading as something similar, such as simple poor circulation (a condition which, as many diabetic sufferers already know, can itself cause neuropathic symptoms).

While many pain treatments for conditions similar to neuropathy can help somewhat, they are no match for a correctly-identified and targeted diagnosis! Learning about neuropathy and becoming familiar with its most common causes, signs, and treatments is the best course you can take to ensure that you're seeing the right doctors, and that you're doing your best to guide them to the most helpful diagnosis.

The main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy with which you should be familiar are:

• Shooting pain or burning sensations

• Weakness or loss of dexterity in the arms and legs

• Tingling and numbness, especially in the extremities

• Loss of fine motor control (dropping things frequently becomes an issue)

• False sensory signals (reduced ability to sense temperature, sensations of being touched or wearing gloves, hats, or stockings when you are not

Other symptoms can also occur, of course, resultant from the above: sleep deprivation, restlessness, inability to sit still, irritability and nervousness, and so on.

So who should be on the lookout for signs of neuropathy? This is another reason neuropathy can sometimes be tricky to diagnose: so many groups are at risk!

Some of the most common causes of neuropathy include (this is a partial list!):

• Diabetes

• Chemotherapy (increasingly over the past few decades, as cancer treatments become more and more effective)

• Kidney disorders

• HIV

• Nerve damage from injury or surgery

• Shingles

• Genetic diseases such as Ataxia, or even hereditary neuropathy

Even certain everyday activities and work habits can result in neuropathy: carpal tunnel syndrome (mononeuropathy, which affects only a single nerve) and chronic numbness in the lower back and buttocks are both common neuropathic conditions suffered from simply driving or working at a desk for extended periods!

If you've been diagnosed with neuropathy, there are constant developments in the world of medical research and development to help manage your pain. Methods vary depending on the intensity, cause, and symptoms of your case. Some studies suggest non-steroid painkillers (Motrin, Aleve) can help mild symptoms, while more extreme pain requires prescription medication. Our treatments also utilize the an external therapeutic device to help gently stimulate and sooth affected nerves. This should always be tried before surgically implanted devices wherever possible.

Of course, in cases where neuropathy is the result of a chronic or persistent illness, management of that underlying illness is key. If you are diabetic, are undergoing physical therapy for an injury or after a surgery, or have another relevant condition, make the correct care of that condition a priority-most treatments for those conditions are designed to minimize neuropathic injuries.

Living with neuropathy is uncomfortably inconvenient at best, and can be dangerous in many cases. Many neuropathy sufferers experience some degree of loss in motor control and bodily function, and in some cases, impact of neuropathy on the body can become life-threatening or debilitating.

Don't take chances if you suffer from any of the conditions that cause neuropathy and think you may have symptoms! With a correct diagnosis, you can be treated. Contact us, and we can help you find a Neuropathy Clinician in your area and give you even more information on how to ease your specific condition.

Dr. John Hayes, Jr. is an Evvy Award Nominee and author of "Living and Practicing by Design" and the bestseller "Beating Neuropathy-Taking Misery to Miracles in Just 5 Weeks!"

Peripheral neuropathy doctors, physical therapists and patients will find more information as well as post comments and questions at http://neuropathydr.com

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