Peripheral neuropathy is a term that refers to damage to your peripheral nervous system. This system embodies a large network of nerves that transmits sensory messages from your spinal cord and brain to the rest of your body. Peripheral neuropathy can cause many problems.

Identification

Peripheral neuropathy affects sensory nerves, which tell you if there's heat, cold or pain; motor nerves, which control movement; and autonomic nerves, which regulate blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and bladder control.

Types

The damage can affect one nerve, which is called mononeuropathies. If peripheral neuropathy causes damage to more than one nerve then you will suffer from polyneuropathy.

Effects

With this condition, you'll typically experience symptoms in your hands and feet before it spreads to your arms and legs. This is because peripheral neuropathy affects your longest nerves first.

Symptoms

Peripheral neuropathy causes many symptoms, depending on which nerves are affected. This includes numbness and tingling in your feet or hands, which may spread into your legs and arms; burning sensations; muscle weakness or paralysis; bowel or bladder problems; or sharp pain. You may also experience sensitivity to touch and lack of coordination.

Infections

Besides numbness, this condition can also cause infections. When you lack sensation in areas of your body, like your feet, you may not feel minor injuries such as cuts or burns. Thus, infections can set in before you are aware of them.

Source:

Mayo Clinic

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke