People with peripheral neuropathy can experience a variety of symptoms, commonly abnormal or unusual sensations. These include sensations of pain, numbness, pins and needles, tingling, or prickling that begins in the feet. In later stages, the hands can be affected as well. In some cases, the abnormal sensations can extend to the arms, legs, and trunk. Peripheral neuropathy can also affect the muscles resulting in weakness and atrophy.
People with peripheral neuropathy are at risk for serious complications, including infections, such as gangrene. This can occur because in some cases there is numbness and an inability to feel pain after an injury or as an infection develops. This can lead to the development of a serious infection before the person is aware there is a problem.
Sometimes peripheral neuropathy can affect nerves that transmit electrical signal from the brain to organs, such as the bladder, intestine, or stomach. This can result in abnormal sweating and other dysfunctions.
There are many symptoms that can accompany peripheral neuropathy, depending on the disease, disorder or condition that causing it. When peripheral neuropathy cause by diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. Accompanying symptoms and complications may include gangrene, peripheral vascular disease, and hyperglycemia.
When peripheral neuropathy is caused by vasculitis, symptoms can include fever, diffuse aches, diminished pulses, and hypertension.
Because peripheral neuropathy is a symptom of another disease, condition or disorder, any unusual, ongoing or progressive abnormal sensations in the feet, hands, arms, legs or trunk should be reported to a physician or other licensed health care provider....more about Peripheral neuropathy »
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Peripheral neuropathy includes the 11 symptoms listed below:
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Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:
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The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Peripheral neuropathy includes:
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The most common type of peripheral neuropathy damages the nerves of the limbs, especially the feet. Nerves on both sides of the body are affected. Common symptoms of this kind of neuropathy are:
The damage to nerves often results in loss of reflexes and muscle weakness. The foot often becomes wider and shorter, the gait changes, and foot ulcers appear as pressure is put on parts of the foot that are less protected. Because of the loss of sensation, injuries may go unnoticed and often become infected. If ulcers or foot injuries are not treated in time, the infection may involve the bone and require amputation. However, problems caused by minor injuries can usually be controlled if they are caught in time. Avoiding foot injury by wearing well-fitted shoes and examining the feet daily can help prevent amputations. (Source: excerpt from Diabetic Neuropathy The Nerve Damage of Diabetes: NIDDK)
When considering symptoms of Peripheral neuropathy, it is also important to consider Peripheral neuropathy as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Peripheral neuropathy may cause:
For a more detailed analysis of Peripheral neuropathy as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Peripheral neuropathy.
Onset of Peripheral neuropathy: Usually insidious in onset.
These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
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The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Peripheral neuropathy. This signs and symptoms information for Peripheral neuropathy has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Peripheral neuropathy signs or Peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Peripheral neuropathy may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Peripheral neuropathy symptoms.
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