Thursday, June 6, 2019

What Causes Peripheral Neuropathy? | The Foundation for PN

https://www.foundationforpn.org/what-is-peripheral-neuropathy/causes/
Peripheral Neuropathy Causes

There are many causes of peripheral neuropathy, including diabetes, chemo-induced neuropathy, hereditary disorders, inflammatory infections, auto-immune diseases, protein abnormalities, exposure to toxic chemicals (toxic neuropathy), poor nutrition, kidney failure, chronic alcoholism, and certain medications – especially those used to treat cancer and HIV/AIDS. In some cases, however, even with extensive evaluation, the causes of peripheral neuropathy in some people remain unknown – this is called idiopathic neuropathy.  

 Alcohol


 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

 Kidney Failure

 Toxins  

 Vitamin + Nutrition Deficiency  

 Chemo-induced PN

 Diabetes  

 Idiopathic Neuropathy  

 Heredity Disorders

 Inflammatory/Infectious  

 Other




Autoimmune Disease, in which your immune system attacks and damages parts of your body, including your nerves. Examples include Sjogren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease. Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disease that happens rapidly and can affect autonomic nerves.

Autoimmune with no specific causal infectious agent identified:



https://www.foundationforpn.org/what-is-peripheral-neuropathy/causes/toxins/
Toxic Neuropathy 

Toxins, poisons and chemicals can cause peripheral neuropathy. This can happen through drug or chemical abuse or through exposure to industrial chemicals in the workplace or in the environment (after either limited or long-term exposure). Common toxins that cause neuropathy include: exposure to lead, mercury, arsenic and thalium. Some organic insecticides and solvents can result in neuropathies. Sniffing glue or other toxic compounds can also cause peripheral neuropathy. Certain herbal medicines, especially Chinese herbal medicines, are particularly rich in mercury and arsenic and taking them can lead to peripheral neuropathy.

Toxins That Can Cause Peripheral Neuropathy

  • Acrylamide
  • Alcohol
  • Arsenic
  • Brevetoxin (from algae by means of the shellfish that eat it)
  • Buckthorn berry toxin
  • Carbon disulfide (alone or as a contaminant of Agent Orange)
  • Ciguatera toxin (from algae by means of the shellfish that eat it)
  • Dioxins (alone or as a contaminant of Agent Orange)
  • Ethanol
  • Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
  • Hexacarbons (in solvents and glues)
  • Tetrodotoxin (from puffer fish)
  • Lead
  • Mercury (acute exposure to high dose)
  • Nitrous oxide (causing depletion of vitamin B12)
  • Organophosphates (insecticide)
  • Saxitoxin (from algae by means of the shellfish that eat it)
  • Thallium (associated with hair loss)
  • Zinc Toxicity (leading to copper deficiency)
Because patients may have subtle pain or weakness, it may be difficult to arrive at a specific diagnosis of toxic neuropathy.
Note on Agent Orange: Over the years there has been suggestive evidence of an association between exposure to herbicides used in Vietnam and clinical neurological disorders, including peripheral neuropathy specifically.  However, a review of research conducted over the last two decades (visit PubMed (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health) indicates that the studies were limited by various factors, and thus all widely concluded that the evidence was insufficient to conclude or confirm a connection between exposure to Agent Orange and peripheral neuropathy.

Sometimes peripheral neuropathy seems to happen for no particular reason. Doctors call this disorder "idiopathic", which means "of unknown cause." Typically, idiopathic peripheral neuropathy occurs in people over 60 years old; progresses slowly (or doesn't progress at all after the initial onset); and it can be very disruptive to someone's normal life and lifestyle.

Idiopathic Neuropathy Symptoms

(Not all symptoms and signs may be present.)
You may feel these symptoms first in your feet and then possibly in your shins:
  • Numbness, tingling and pain
  • Unsteady when standing, walking
  • Muscle weakness (including weak ankles) or cramps
You may also experience feelings of faintness when standing.

Evaluation & Tests

(Not all evaluation and tests may be necessary.)
  • Physical examination
  • Neurological evaluation
  • Electromyography
  • Nerve conduction velocity test
  • Standardized tests to measure:
    • Muscle strength
    • Loss of function of sensory and autonomic nerves
  • Blood Test – Blood tests are commonly employed to check for vitamin deficiencies, toxic elements and evidence of an abnormal immune response. Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may request certain laboratory tests to identify potentially treatable causes for neuropathy. These include tests for:

Idiopathic Neuropathy Treatment

(Not all treatments and therapies may be indicated.)
  • Over-the-counter pain medication for mild pain
  • For severe pain, take over-the-counter pain medication or prescription drugs used for peripheral neuropathy, on a regular basis—rather than waiting until nighttime when symptoms can become more severe
  • Taking safety measures to compensate for loss of sensation
  • Special therapeutic shoes (which may be covered by Medicare and other insurance)

Inflammatory neuropathies can be caused by infections or an autoimmune process. There are several specific causes of this neuropathy. However, in most cases the immune system begins attacking the nerves, which causes neuropathy. Patients can complain of sensory symptoms like burning, tingling or numbness. They may also have motor symptoms like muscle weakness. It may be contained in the arms or legs or more widespread.
Infectious with a specific casual agent identified:



at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

20–33% PwP have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at time of diagnosis, but 83 percent of those still living with the disease after 20 years have dementia. | Parkinson’s Dementia: Stages, Behavior, Symptoms, and More

Dementia is a condition that causes a decline in thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving.  About 20–33% PwP have  mild cognitive impairment...