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Complications of Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a general condition in which certain nerves of the body are damaged. It is commonly associated with diabetes (due to high blood sugar) but also occurs with chemotherapy (toxic side effects), nerve injury (carpel tunnel) or malnutrition (deficiency of B vitamins). Symptoms depend on the nerves affected. Neuropathy usually involves pain, discomfort and loss of normal bodily function.

  1. Legs and Feet

    • When nerve damage occurs in the lower extremities, walking may be difficult. The legs and feet may feel heavy, tired, and numb or tingly. Numbness can mask other painful sensations in the feet, such as broken skin. A person with neuropathy may be unaware of a sore on his foot. If the sore becomes infected and goes untreated, it could lead to gangrene (death of tissues) and possibly require amputation. People with neuropathy in their lower extremities should examine their feet daily for cuts and sores. They should also wear shoes (instead of going barefoot) and keep the insides of them free of harmful objects such as gravel.

    Digestive Tract

    • Food is digested in the stomach and passes to the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed. When the nerves of the digestive tract are damaged, there may be constipation or diarrhea or both, in addition to nausea, vomiting and generalized discomfort. Blood sugar is unpredictable, because food is not moving to the small intestine in a timely manner (and therefore nutrients are not being absorbed). When food moves extremely slowly through the digestive tract (gastroparesis), food can become hard lumps with the potential to obstruct the small intestine.

    Urinary Tract

    • The kidneys filter water and waste from blood and store it in the bladder until it is excreted from the body (urination). When the nerves of the bladder are damaged, the bladder does not empty completely, and residual urine remains. Bacteria can grow in the urine and create an infection that spreads to the kidneys. A person may not recognize when his bladder is full (and therefore does not go to the bathroom), or he may be unable to control urination (resulting in incontinence, or leaking of urine).

    Heart

    • Heart rate usually increases with activity and decreases with rest. When neuropathy affects the circulatory system, the body is unable to efficiently regulate heart rate and blood pressure. A person with neuropathy may find that his pulse remains elevated long after his exercise session ended. Falls are always a possibility. Blood pressure can drop drastically with changes in position (switching from sitting to standing), or a person may suddenly become dizzy and pass out, hurting himself. Huge dips in blood pressure are prevented by gradually changing positions.

    Treatment and Management of Neuropathy

    • There is no cure for neuropathy, but there are medications and therapies aimed at relieving pain and restoring bodily function. People with neuropathy can give up cigarettes, eat healthy meals and exercise. Diabetics need to maintain their blood sugars within normal levels.

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