Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to your peripheral nerves. Your peripheral nervous system sends information from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, and metabolic problems, but the most common cause is diabetes mellitus.

Peripheral neuropathy often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet, but it can also affect other areas of your body. The pain is typically described as stabbing, burning, or tingling. Symptoms can improve if the neuropathy is caused by a treatable underlying condition.

Because there are different classifications of nerves, the symptoms depend largely on what type of nerves are affected, Peripheral neuropathy may affect one nerve, two or more nerves in different areas, or many nerves. A nerve function test is used to make a diagnosis.