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Peripheral Neuropathy

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What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

The term peripheral neuropathy refers to nerve diseases that target a particular section of your nervous system. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by various conditions, resulting in a diverse range of symptoms. Different body parts may be affected by peripheral neuropathy, depending on the circumstances.

The connection between the brain and spinal cord and the muscles, skin, and internal organs is facilitated by a complex network of peripheral nerves. Dermatomes are lines in the body where peripheral nerves emerge from the spinal cord. Usually, when a nerve is damaged, it impacts one or multiple dermatomes that can be traced to specific body regions. When the nerves are damaged, it hinders the flow of information between the brain and the body, which can result in muscle movement difficulties, loss of sensation in the arms and legs, and the occurrence of pain.

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Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy?

Analysing the triggers for Peripheral Neuropathy

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This condition can be caused by various factors and underlying conditions. Although peripheral neuropathy can be genetic in some cases, it is typically acquired. Peripheral neuropathy can be acquired and often has no known cause, making it idiopathic. Generally, doctors are able to establish a connection between the condition and one or more causes. There are various causes of peripheral neuropathy. These include:

Type 2 diabetes

Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes is the leading factor in the development of peripheral neuropathy. High blood sugar for an extended period can cause peripheral nerve damage. Losing sensation in the feet and lower legs is a common occurrence among people with type 2 diabetes.

Alcohol use disorder

Nerve damage can occur due to excessive and long-term alcohol consumption. Peripheral neuropathy is often caused by alcohol use disorder and can be aggravated by vitamin deficiencies.

Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies

Deficiencies in specific vitamins can lead to the development of nerve damage. Copper, vitamins B1, B6, B9, B12, folic acid (B9), and E are the main deficiencies that could potentially cause this. This can also be caused by excessive vitamin B6 intake.

Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions

Severe weakness can be a consequence of Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). It is possible to treat them effectively. Conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, and more can lead to the development of neuropathy.

Medications and toxins

Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by chemotherapy and certain medications like antibiotics, as well as medications used to treat arrhythmia and gout. It can also be caused by exposure to specific heavy metals and industrial chemicals.

Tumors

Tumors, whether malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous), can both cause disruptions in your peripheral nervous system.

Genetic conditions

Inherited from parents, genetic conditions are those that you acquire. Amyloidosis, Fabry disease, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are examples of conditions that can lead to peripheral neuropathy. Both familial amyloidosis and Fabry disease can be treated. Infections: Nerve damage can occur as a result of viral infections like HIV or bacterial infections such as Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Having shingles is another typical example that can result in persistent nerve pain.

Trauma and surgery

Trauma or medical procedures can cause direct damage to nerves, resulting in injuries. Nerves can be harmed by swelling or stretching. Typically, this type of damage is isolated to a single area. The duration can range from long-term to permanent.

Vascular disorders

Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by inadequate blood circulation. Sitting or lying in a specific position can cause a harmless and temporary sensation of numbness in an arm or leg. If you change your position frequently enough to improve circulation, this discomfort will disappear rapidly. If circulation problems worsen, they can lead to significant and irreversible nerve damage.

Idiopathic neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy often occurs without a known cause. This neuropathy is referred to as “idiopathic” or “cryptogenic” due to its unknown or obscure cause.
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Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

Recognize the Signs: Understanding the Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

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Peripheral neuropathy can present with an extensive range of symptoms. A single nerve, a network of related nerves, or numerous nerves spread across your body may all be impacted by this illness. The impaired nerve signal type—multiple signal types may be involved—determines the symptoms as well. Motor, Autonomic, Sensory and Pain are the types of symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy.
Muscle weakness and paralysis

Muscle weakness and paralysis

Peripheral neuropathy causes nerve degeneration, which weakens the muscles that are related to it. That may result in paralysis, which could lead to weak hands, foot drop, and trouble moving the toes. Muscles in the arms, thighs, and other places can also be affected by weakness.
Muscle atrophy

Muscle atrophy

Muscle weakness and atrophy can result from loss of nerve connectivity. Peripheral neuropathy patients specifically experience this in the hands, lower legs, and feet. Loss of muscle can lead to irregularities in the hands and feet.
Tingling

Tingling

This occurs when there is a malfunction involving the nerves that provide messages to the brain. This sounds a lot like the radio static you get when you are too far away from the station.
Uncontrolled muscle movements

Uncontrolled muscle movements

Peripheral neuropathy can sometimes lead nerves to become overactive on their own, which results in cramping.
Numbness

Numbness

This results in the loss of some kinds of sensations and occurs when nerves are unable to transmit or receive sensory messages.
Imbalance and clumsiness

Imbalance and clumsiness

Nerves also transport sensations, which your brain utilises to track the placement of your hands and feet. These feelings, which you are not consciously aware of, are essential for balance and coordination. In the absence of these feelings, you may become unsteady on your feet, particularly in low light, and clumsy with your hands.
Blood pressure changes

Blood pressure changes

Your body regulates blood pressure on its own, but peripheral nerve injury can interfere with this process. Particularly when you stand up, it may result in a sudden decrease in blood pressure or rise in heart rate.
Pain

Pain

Peripheral neuropathy-induced nerve injury can lead to abnormalities in the timing and intensity of pain signals, resulting in hyperalgesia (strong pain) or allodynia (easy pain). It may even trigger nerves to release pain signals on their own. Peripheral neuropathy is most evident and troublesome through the presence of “neuropathic” pain.
Sweating too much or not enough

Sweating too much or not enough

Sweating is how your body naturally regulates its internal temperature. One may experience insufficient or excessive sweating due to peripheral nerve injury. This may result in increased perspiration after eating or dryness and scaling on your feet. Bowel and bladder problems: Your bladder and bowel are automatically controlled by autonomic impulses. In addition to affecting bowel movements (constipation or diarrhoea), nerve fibre disruption can also infrequently impair bladder control.
Sexual dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction

Your sexual arousal is regulated by your autonomic nervous system. For this reason, autonomic issues may contribute to sexual dysfunction.
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Ayurvedic Healing for Peripheral Neuropathy

Ayurveda views neuropathy as a harmful manifestation of disturbed vata. External factors, such as injury, can disrupt vata and hinder the transmission of nerve signals. Ayurveda refers to all nerve-related conditions as vata vyadhi. Nerve-related functions in the body are governed by the Vata dosha. The rise and fall of vata indicates poor health and manifests in distinct ways in the body. The treatment of peripheral neuropathy involves calming vata. In certain instances, internal medications suffice, while hospitalisation is required for procedures like snehana, swedana, nasya, virechana, vasthi, and lepana.
 

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Ayurvedic Treatment

Ayur Bethaniya for Ayurvedic Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy in Kerala

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Ayurveda focuses on addressing the underlying cause of illness, which in this case is the imbalance of doshas. In Ayurveda, the focus of treating Peripheral Neuropathy is to prevent myelin sheath degradation and aid in its regeneration. To achieve this, the body must first undergo panchakarma operations to remove all poisons at the cellular level.

Additional Ayurvedic remedies are offered to balance the doshas. Furthermore, yoga and meditation are used in Ayurvedic treatments to reduce stress, which is a crucial factor in the process. This course of therapy aids in the comprehensive reversal of peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes, hypertension, and inflammatory disorders can cause nerve damage, leading to over-excited senses and aggravated doshas. Burning from Pitta and tingling from an unbalanced Vata and Kapha. While balancing the three doshas can be challenging, at Ayur Bethaniya, we offer the best solution.

Patients suffering from neuropathy can benefit from our Panchakarma, particularly in complicated and chronic situations. Basti, Swedana, and Snehana are the primary treatments used in most cases, while Vamana and Virechana specifically aid in alleviating aggravated doshas. Ayur Bethaniya has been dedicated to delivering top-notch neuropathy care for several years, utilizing Ayurvedic medicines and panchakarma.

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Prevention

Learn the strategies to prevent the disease

Peripheral neuropathy can be prevented by addressing certain potential causes. Taking preventive measures or delaying certain conditions can also reduce the risk of developing it. Overall, the most effective measures for prevention or precautionary actions are:
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Eating a balanced diet

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Staying physically active

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Maintaining a healthy weight

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Wearing safety equipment to prevent injuries

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Managing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes

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Avoiding alcohol in excess

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Avoiding exposures to toxins, poisons and heavy metals