When a diagnosis of Neuropathy is made, the terminology can be very confusing for the average individual. Understanding what is neuropathy can be very helpful and comforting in selecting the best treatment plan to relieve or eliminate the symptoms associated with Neuropathy.
In simple terms, Neuropathy is an inflammation of the nerves caused by damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, therefore called peripheral neuropathy. This inflammation may be associated with disease, metabolic problems or traumatic injuries to the nerves. Some people develop neuropathy as a side effect of medications given for a different medical problem.
Also, it is not uncommon for people who are diabetic to experience some form of neuropathy. The latest research indicates that as many as 20 million Americans experience some form of Neuropathy. The human body has an enormous communication system that transfers information from the brain and spinal cord to all parts of the body by the nerves. Peripheral nerves send messages back and forth and any damage to the peripheral nervous system will disrupt and interrupt communication between the brain and the various parts of the body.
The peripheral nervous system acts as a way of connecting the central nervous system to the limbs and organs of the body. Peripheral neuropathy deals with the damage to this system, with the most common form affecting how the nerves in the legs and feet function. Often the underlying cause of the neuropathy cannot be identified, making treatment in some cases more difficult.
Peripheral neuropathy comes in a few different forms, ranging from mononeuropathy, which is quite common, to polyneuropathy, which is more serious in a lot of cases because of the wider range of afflicted areas.
In mononeuropathy, only one nerve is affected by the underlying problem. Due to the problem being localised, the cause of mononeuropathy is often easier to find. A common example of mononeuropathy include carpal tunnel syndrome, in which the median nerve travelling through the carpal tunnel of the wrist is compressed. This is a common problem in people who overuse computers, and is related to repetitive strain injury. Another example that we all experience from time to time is the sensation of ‘pins and needles’, though this is a much less severe problem, fixable simply by adjusting to a more comfortable and natural position.
In polyneuropathy, many different nerves are affected by the problem. This makes diagnosis more difficult, since the cause could be centralised at any part of the body. Often the damage on both sides of the body is symmetric, making many of life’s simple tasks become very challenging. Often the cause for these problems can be something as simple as alcohol, though in many cases the answer is not so simple.
Cranial neuropathy is split into two main sections: optic neuropathy and auditory neuropathy.
Optic neuropathy refers to damage of the optic nerve. This results in problems relating to vision, either as a sudden loss (partial or total) of vision, or a more gradual decline in what can be seen. The alcohol methanol can cause irreversible damage of the optic nerve if not treated very quickly. This chemical is only present in very small amounts in the alcohol used for recreational purposes.
Auditory neuropathy refers to the problems encountered when the outer hair cells still exist and function, but the signals they receive from the surroundings are not properly transmitted to the brain and auditory nerve. This results in hearing problems – either partial or total deafness. Auditory neuropathy is usually caused by a problem in either the inner hairs of the cochlea, the synapse between these cells and the auditory nerves, or the auditory nerve itself. Often the problem is a combination of difficulties in more than one of these areas. Partial hearing loss is often difficult to diagnose, and can hence remain undetected for some time.