Understanding Neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system controls essential involuntary functions like digestion, heart rate, and sweating. When these nerves are damaged, they disrupt your body’s ability to perform these critical functions without conscious effort.

Signs & Symptoms
Common signs of autonomic neuropathy include:

• Difficulty regulating body temperature
• Digestive issues (e.g., constipation, diarrhea)
• Trouble swallowing
• Blood pressure fluctuations (either high or low)

Sensory nerves are responsible for your sense of touch and how your brain interprets sensations. Damage to these nerves can cause unusual or painful sensory experiences.

Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms of sensory nerve damage include:

• Impaired reflexes
• A sensation of wearing gloves or socks when you’re not
• Coordination and balance problems
• Abnormal pain sensations
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Cold extremities (hands/feet)

Motor nerves control the muscles responsible for movement. Damage to these nerves can affect everyday activities such as walking, dressing, and speaking.

Signs & Symptoms
Common symptoms of motor nerve damage include:

• Muscle cramping
• Weakness
• Twitching
• Muscle atrophy

Mononeuropathy refers to nerve damage that affects a single nerve, often caused by an injury or prolonged pressure on that nerve.

Proximal neuropathy is a rarer form of nerve damage. Depending on which nerve is affected, it typically causes pain in the hip, thigh, or buttock areas.

1. Diabetes
Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy in the U.S. High blood sugar levels over time damage blood vessels, reducing blood flow and causing nerve damage.

2. Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases can also lead to nerve damage when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy nerve cells. Some autoimmune conditions linked to neuropathy include:

• Celiac disease
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Lupus
• VasculitiS

3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is a side effect experienced by about 40% of chemotherapy patients. While symptoms may improve after treatment ends, nerve damage can persist for some individuals.

4. Injuries and Trauma
Injuries, such as falls or car accidents, can cause mononeuropathy by crushing, compressing, or overstretching a nerve, leading to nerve damage.

5. HIV/AIDS
Peripheral neuropathy is common in people with HIV/AIDS, with about one-third of those affected experiencing nerve damage either directly from the virus or as a side effect of medications.

6. Other Risk Factors
Additional risk factors for neuropathy include:

• Alcohol abuse
• Hereditary disorders
• Infections
• Medications
• Kidney failure
• Exposure to toxins
• Vitamin deficiencies

If you’re suffering from neuropathy, you know how pain, tingling, and numbness can significantly impact your quality of life. Thankfully, there are non-drug treatments available that address the root causes of nerve damage. At Neuropathy Elite Centers Wisconsin, we offer customized, drug-free treatment plans using advanced technology like Neuro Modulation Treatment to help regenerate damaged nerve tissue.