Peripheral neuropathy usually starts with numbness, prickling or tingling in the toes or fingers. It may spread up to the feet or hands and cause burning, freezing, throbbing and/or shooting pain that is often worse at night.
The pain can be either constant or periodic, but usually the pain is felt equally on both sides of the body—in both hands or in both feet. Some types of peripheral neuropathy develop suddenly, while others progress more slowly over many years.
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy often include:
- A sensation of wearing an invisible "glove" or "sock"
- Burning sensation or freezing pain
- Sharp, jabbing or electric-like pain
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Difficulty sleeping because of feet and leg pain
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty walking or moving the arms
- Unusual sweating
- Abnormalities in blood pressure or pulse
Symptoms such as experiencing weakness or not being able to hold something, not knowing where your feet are, and experiencing pain that feels as if it is stabbing or burning in your limbs, could be signs of peripheral neuropathy.
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may depend on the kind of peripheral nerves that have been damaged.
Three types of peripheral nerves: sensory, motor and autonomic |
