Peripheral neuropathy can cause pain, numbness or weakness.

What are the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include numbness or tingling, weakness, sensitivity, and pain.

Patients often describe the pain associated with peripheral neuropathy as:

• Burning
• Sharp
• Tingling
• Constant
• Sporadic
• Deep
• Severe
• Crushing

Painful peripheral neuropathy makes many activities of daily living difficult, including:

• Work
• Household chores
• Social and recreational activities
• Exercise
• Stand or sit for long periods
• Walk farther than short distances
• Sleep

What causes peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is caused by damage to the nerves. The most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. Poorly controlled diabetes accounts for about 60 percent of cases.

However, there are many other causes of peripheral neuropathy. Cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy may experience peripheral neuropathy. Other causes include HIV, shingles, kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, alcoholism, nutrient deficiencies, hereditary disorders, and physical trauma.

Does peripheral neuropathy always cause pain?

Peripheral neuropathy does not always result in pain. The condition can cause other sensations such as numbness or tingling.

Painful diabetic neuropathy is present in approximately 20% of patients with diabetic neuropathy.

What is diabetic neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy is most often related to damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal column, which is called peripheral neuropathy. This type of nerve damage typically affects the legs and feet. Approximately 50% of adults with diabetes will develop diabetic neuropathy, according to a 2019 study published in Current Diabetes Reports.

Is peripheral neuropathy permanent?

No, peripheral neuropathy is not always permanent. Peripheral neuropathy can go away, particularly if it is being caused by a temporary condition such as the use of chemotherapy or the underlying condition causing the problem is treated. Peripheral neuropathy pain can be reduced through medications or peripheral neuropathy treatment, including spinal cord stimulation, which was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for diabetic neuropathy.

What treatment options are there for peripheral neuropathy??

Conservative options are always the first line of treatment for peripheral neuropathy. Conservative treatment options include:

• Changing your lifestyle, behavior, and/or diet
• Improving the management of your diabetes or underlying condition causing the neuropathy
• Physical therapy
• Gabapentinoid anticonvulsants (gabapentin or pregabalin)

For patients who fail to find relief with conservative treatments, the FDA recently approved spinal cord stimulation for painful diabetic neuropathy. Spinal cord stimulation uses tiny electrical impulses to interrupt pain signals. Spinal cord stimulation was found to have positive long-term benefits for many patients with painful diabetic neuropathy, according to a large randomized study published in Diabetes Care in 2022.

Learn more about all the types of peripheral neuropathy treatment.