|  | Conditions Treatments | Neurological Disorders

Neuropathy Causes & Risk Factors

Neuropathy is a disorder of the nervous system that has many causes. Most often, it affects hands and feet, causing weakness, numbness and pain.

  1. The Facts

    • According to the Neuropathy Association, approximately 30 percent of neuropathies are considered idiopathic, which means the cause is unknown. Neuropathy can be either inherited or acquired.

    Risk Factors

    • Diabetes is one of the most common risk factors for this condition. Other risk factors include alcohol abuse, vitamin deficiencies and autoimmune diseases.

    Hereditary Causes

    • Some hereditary disorders cause neuropathy. Examples include Friedreich's ataxia and amyloid polyneuropathy.

    Infections

    • Infections can cause neuropathy. Examples include Guillain-Barre syndrome, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis and syphilis.

    Toxic Causes

    • Exposure to poisonous substances may cause nerve damage. Sniffing glue or exposure to heavy metals such as lead or arsenic are possible toxic causes of neuropathy.

    Other Causes

    • Neuropathy is sometimes caused by physical trauma from accidents, sports-related injuries or falls. Other causes include prolonged pressure on a nerve, decreased oxygen and blood flow, compression of a nerve by casts and medication such as chemotherapy.

Neurological Disorders - Related Articles