Neuropathy may be associated with varying combinations of weakness, autonomic changes and sensory changes. Loss of muscle bulk or fasciculations, a particular fine twitching of muscle may be seen. Sensory symptoms encompass loss of sensation and “positive” phenomena including pain. Symptoms depend on the type of nerves affected; motor, sensory, autonomic, and where the nerves are located in the body. One or more types of nerves may be affected. Common symptoms associated with damage to the motor nerve are muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms. Loss of balance and coordination may also occur. Damage to the sensory nerve can produce tingling, numbness, and pain. Pain associated with this nerve is described in various ways such as the following: sensation of wearing an invisible “glove” or “sock”, burning, freezing, or electric-like, extreme sensitivity to touch. The autonomic nerve damage causes problems with involuntary functions leading to symptoms such as abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, reduced ability to perspire, constipation, bladder dysfunction (e.g., incontinence), and sexual dysfunction.
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system –the motor, sensory and autonomic nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles, skin and internal organs — which may be caused either by diseases of the nerve or from the side-effects of systemic illness.
Neuropathy usually affects the hands and feet, causing weakness, numbness, tingling and pain. Peripheral neuropathy’s course is variable; it can come and go, slowly progressing over many years, or it can become severe and debilitating. However, if diagnosed early, peripheral neuropathy can often be controlled.
Peripheral neuropathy often causes numbness and pain in the hands and feet. People typically describe the pain of peripheral neuropathy as tingling or burning, while they may compare the loss of sensation to the feeling of wearing a thin stocking or glove.
Peripheral neuropathy is caused by nerve damage. It can result from such problems as traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes.
In many cases, peripheral neuropathy symptoms improve with time — especially if it’s caused by an underlying condition that can be treated. A number of medications are often used to reduce the painful symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is common. It is estimated that upwards of 20 million Americans suffer from this illness. It can occur at any age, but is more common among older adults. A 1999 survey found that 8-9% of Medicare recipients have peripheral neuropathy as their primary or secondary diagnosis. The annual cost to Medicare exceeds $3.5 billion.
Peripheral neuropathy has always been present, but has not received much attention. Its extent and importance have not yet been adequately recognized. It is apt to be misdiagnosed, or thought to be merely a side effect of another disease like diabetes or cancer or kidney failure. The development of new therapies has unfortunately been slow and under funded.
Causes of Neuropathy
There are many causes of neuropathy. Approximately 30% of neuropathies are “idiopathic,” or of an unknown cause. In another 30% of cases, the cause is diabetes. Other causes of neuropathy include:
* Genetic diseases: Friedreich’s ataxia, Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome
* Metabolic/Endocrine: diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, porphyria, amyloidosis, liver failure, hypothyroidism
* Toxic causes: Drugs (vincristine, phenytoin, nitrofurantoin, isoniazid, ethyl alcohol), organic metals, heavy metals such as zinc, excess intake of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
* Fluoroquinolone toxicity: Irreversible neuropathy is a serious adverse reaction of fluoroquinolone drugs
* Inflammatory diseases: Guillain-Barré syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosis, leprosy, Sjögren’s syndrome
* Vitamin deficiency states: Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B1 (thiamin)
* Physical trauma: compression, pinching, cutting, projectile injuries (i.e. gunshot wound), strokes including prolonged occlusion of blood flow
* Others: shingles, malignant disease, HIV, radiation, chemotherapy
Linkage to Zinc Poisoning
Excessive zinc intake can also cause neuropathy.
Neuropathy is a disorder of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system and is commonly caused by zinc poisoning. Severe denture cream neuropathy can even result in permanent disability and paralysis. The symptoms of denture cream neuropathy can include:
* tingling, numbness, burning, or pain in the extremities
* paralysis or loss of ability to move arms, hands, legs or feet
* muscular weakness
* poor balance and coordination
* abnormal blood pressure and heart rate
* constipation and bladder dysfunction
* decrease in walking stride
This video answers the question: “What is Peripheral Neuropathy?”:
Hello. My name is Glenda Grainger, I am a registered nurse, and have been practicing medical care since 1979. I have worked at Seton Hospital in Austin and at St. Luke’s Hospital at the Texas Medical Center where I specialized in Cardiovascular and Intensive Care nursing.
Today I am a medical consultant to the law firm of Blizzard, McCarthy & Nabers.
I am going to talk about peripheral neuropathy, what the condition is, what are its symptoms, what are its causes, and what you should do if you feel you have this condition.
What is it?
Peripheral neuropathy is a medical problem with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord. This can produce pain, loss of sensation, and an inability to control muscles.
“Peripheral” means nerves further out from the center of the body, distant from the brain and spinal cord.
“Neuro” means nerves.
“Pathy” means abnormal.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can include a loss of sensation, burning, tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, arms or legs. For many neuropathies, sensation changes often begin in the feet and progress toward the center of the body with involvement of other areas as the condition worsens.
One patient that I saw recently started out with a tingling in her feet. Over time, she began to lose sensation in her lower legs. Now she is requires a walker to help her get around.
What causes it?
Peripheral Neuropathies can be caused by a number of factors. Recent medical studies have documented that exposure to zinc, which can be found in denture cream, can cause neuropathies. In fact, the high concentration of zinc in many denture adhesives can reduce the copper levels in the human body, leading to nerve damage.
What should I Do?
Many of the patients I have seen did not realize that neuropathies could be caused by exposure to zinc. For many months they did not realize that it was from their denture cream. That’s why it is so important – if you are a denture wearer – and have experienced a loss of sensation – that you have a medical evaluation and a blood test from your doctor.
If you believe you may have developed a neuropathy from using denture cream, please get a medical evaluation – a simple blood test can be done by a physician.
If you have questions or would like more information, please fill out the form at the top of the page.
This is Glenda Grainger, a Registered Nurse, now a medical consultant to Blizzard, McCarthy and Nabers.
If you or a loved one have been harmed by the drug Reglan, please visit our Reglan related site, ReglanJustice.com, and learn more about the side effects of Reglan, including tardive dyskinesia, and read the latest news about Reglan on our Reglan blog.
