The Different Types of Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy affects millions of Americans every year. There are three different types of peripheral neuropathy, and they differ significantly both in the numbers of people afflicted and the severity of each different type.

The first type of peripheral neuropathy and the most common type is termed a polyneuropathy. This is most commonly caused by diabetes. The effect is on multiple nerves in the peripheral extremities, potentially including the feet, along with the hands. The nerves in the extremities with diabetes become affected to a varying extent, and a patient may end up having numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or severe pain. The extent of the pain may be different from one extremity to another, and may simply affect the lower extremities and not the hands.

It's not always diabetes that causes a polyneuropathy; it may be of use of drugs like alcohol, heavy metal toxicity such as with lead, utilization of drugs for cancer or infectious diseases, and a multitude of other disorders that can lead to polyneuropathy. At times, the cause is unknown, and this is called idiopathic.

The second type of peripheral neuropathy is called a mononeuropathy. A good example of a mononeuropathy would be carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of one peripheral nerve, that being the median nerve. It is extremely common condition and affects people in varying severity. It may be that it's a minor nuisance, and others may be bothered so badly by it that they need a carpal tunnel release surgery in order to stop the numbness, pain, and tingling. There are a multitude of other conditions where peripheral nerves by themselves are compressed, such as cubital tunnel syndrome or tarsal tunnel syndrome in the foot. The severity of the mononeuropathy may wax and wane, and steroid injections can help decrease the symptoms nicely in order to avoid surgery.

The third type of peripheral neuropathy is called mononeuritis multiplex. This disorder is a fairly complicated, painful condition involving at least 2 separate nerve areas. It is actually a group of disorders that is associated with disorders such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, amyloidosis, Lyme disease, and potentially numerous other conditions. The incidence of mononeuritis multiplex in the US is actually unknown.

When it comes to treatment for the condition, the main factor is whether or not the underlying disorder can be figured out. If so, and be corrected, the neuropathy symptoms may somewhat abate. Or they might not, in which case there are various medications that can stem the tide of pain.