Dr Foot
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Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 679
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 Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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prolonged numbness or loss of sensation is called peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is a relatively common neurological disorder that results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It can be caused by a number of diseases of the nerves or be the result of systemic illnesses. Many of the peripheral neuropathy's have a well established cause such as diabetes, alcoholism, uremia, AIDs, or nutritional deficiencies. Diabetes is, by far, one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy. Other less common causes include exposure to cold or radiation, a few medicines, toxic substances, vascular or collagen disorders, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis.
If a sensory nerve is damaged, the predominant symptoms are pain, numbness, tingling, burning or a loss of feeling. They often begin gradually. There may be a tingling sensation or numbness that starts in the toes and/or the balls of the feet and spreads upward. Occasionally the skin may become so sensitive that the slightest touch is agonizing. There may also may be a numbness, or a complete lack of feeling in the feet. At times the symptoms may be barely noticeable and at other times, especially at night, they may be almost unbearable. The symptoms may also include a sensation that you're wearing an invisible glove or sock; a burning or freezing pain; sharp, jabbing or electric pain; and an extreme sensitivity to touch.
If the motor nerves are damaged there may be a weakness or paralysis of the muscles controlled by the affected nerve(s). In the foot their may be a 'wasting' of the muscles as they do not work as well as before.
Visit you GP and ask him to refer you to a podiatrist or neurologist for a full sensory tests and in depth lifestyle and history consultation. |
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