Types of Neuropathy

Neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy or peripheral nerve damage, is a nervous system disorder affecting the peripheral nerves. This nerve disease prevents the peripheral nerves from sending messages from the brain and spinal cord to other body parts and organs such as muscles and glands. Causes of neuropathy can range from diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, bacterial infections and autoimmune disease to toxin exposure and cancer medications. According medical author Mims Cushing, roughly 40 percent to 70 percent of diabetics suffer from neuropathy with about 70 percent of the problem involving pain in the feet.

Types

• Neuropathies are classified by their pathological features and clinical syndromes. The four main types of nerve damage include polyneuropathy, mononeuropahty, autonomic neuropathy and mononeurtis multiplex. Neuropathy can affect various parts of the body or be localized, only affecting a particular body part or nerve.

Polyneuropathy

• Polyneuropathy, also called distal symmetric polyneuropathy, is the most common type of neuropathy. Usually caused by poor control of blood sugar, polyneuropathy affects legs and feet, with symptoms including tingling, burning sensations and numbness. Besides diabetes, polyneuropathy can be caused by overuse of alcohol, nutritional shortages, anemia, liver or kidney failure, certain cancers or consuming too much vitamin B6.

Mononeuropathy

• Mononeuropathy affects a single nerve or nerve group. Most often, it's caused by injury, although disorders such as mononeuritis multiplex can cause isolated nerve damage and can involve any area of the body. Symptoms include loss of bladder or bowel control, tingling, burning pain, loss of sensation, weakness, numbness or even paralysis.

Mononeuritis Multiplex

• Monoeuritis multiplex is a nervous system or brain disorder involving damage to at least two separate nerve areas. However, multiple nerves in random body areas can also be affected. As it progresses and worsens, it grows more symmetric and less multifocal. Syndromes for this neuropathy can be spread bilaterally, as well as distally and proximally throughout the body.

Autonomic Neuropathy

• Autonomic neuropathy is a common type of neuropathy affecting the autonomic nerves controlling the intestinal tract and other organs such as the bladder and genitals. This neuropathy can interfere with digestion and urination. It affects about a fourth of diabetics, according to the Foot Neuropathy.com website. Common symptoms are loss of coordination and balance, which are usually worse at night. Damaged nerves cause weak muscles and loss of reflexes with the foot usually growing wider and shorter.

Cranial Neuropathy

• Cranial neuropathy generally affects the nerves connected with the brain controlling eye movement. However, it can also involve the nerves connecting the brain to hearing and taste. It typically starts with pain on one side of the face near the eye that's affected with the eye muscle later becoming paralyzed. Symptoms improve or disappear within two to three months.

Treatment

• There is no known medical cure for inherited peripheral neuropathy, although the best treatment is to normalize blood-glucose levels. Also, several medications and therapies can help relieve symptoms. Sometimes anti-depressants are effective, besides a few anti-seizure drugs. Some of the neuropathies that are curable include diabetic neuropathy, thyroid disease that's related to neuropathy and inflammatory neuropathy.