What are the Causes of Nueropathy?

Neuropathy occurs when there is nerve damage. This causes pain in various parts of the body, such as the hands and feet. Although it's not always possible to determine the cause of neuropathy, it is most commonly caused by diabetes.

Diabetes

• According to the Mayo Clinic, at least half of diabetics will deal with neuropathy. High blood sugar commonly causes damage to the nerves, especially in the hands and feet. In addition to numbness and pain, you may experience digestive, heart, urinary and blood vessel problems. It is usually a mild condition but can be painful and even fatal.

Trauma

• Trauma or pressure can cause neuropathy. This includes injuries such as car accidents or pressure from wearing a cast or spending an extended period of time in the same position. Both put the nerves in danger of being damaged

Autoimmune Diseases

• Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Guillain-Barre syndrome cause your immune system to attack parts of your body. This causes damage to different systems, including your nervous system. You can suffer from dizzy spells, sexual difficulty, or urinary problems and have a hard time digesting food. This can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, bloating or constipation.

Alcoholism

• Many alcoholics develop neuropathy because their reliance on the drug causes decreased nerve functioning. According to the National Institutes of Health, there is some disagreement about the cause. Some experts says it's because the alcohol is toxic to nerve tissue. Others say it's because alcoholics have a poor diet and suffer from vitamin deficiencies. Vitamins, especially the B vitamins, are very important in maintaining nerve function. The common symptoms are tingling, numbness and weakness of muscles.

Other Diseases

• Peripheral neuropathy can also be caused by kidney disease, hypothyroidism and HIV/AIDS. Kidney failure causes a slowly progressing form of neuropathy called uremic neuropathy in a quarter to half of people coping with the disease. The symptoms are cramps, increased pain, weakness and tingling. HIV/AIDS can lead to neuropathy in a number of ways--the disease itself attacks nerves, medications can cause it, and complications such as infections can lead to nerve damage. The cases of hypothyroidism causing neuropathy are more rare but do occur in the form of carpal tunnel syndrome.