Identification

• Peripheral nerves are the nerves that control the parts of the body furthest from the brain, such as the hands and feet. Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves that generates pain and a numbing sensation. In most cases, peripheral neuropathy is considered a symptom of an underlying cause, and treatment normally centers around curing that underlying cause to reduce the effects of the damage to the peripheral nerves.
  
  

Effects

• The most common initial symptom of peripheral neuropathy is a slight tingling in the feet or hand--usually most noticeable in the fingers and toes--that gradually gets more noticeable and painful. The tingling gets more intense over time, and it may start to spread up the legs and arms as it starts to evolve more toward a numbing feeling. If the condition is left untreated, the person may lose some or all of the use of his arms or legs over time.
  
  

Potential

• The progressive pain of peripheral neuropathy can be severe and potentially crippling. The pain may become a sharp and constant burning pain before it starts to go numb. The person will begin to lose coordination, and her movements will start to look awkward. She may find it difficult to keep her balance, and she may also start to lose her hand-eye coordination. This will make picking up objects more difficult. Over time, even the slightest contact could become extremely painful, and the person may slowly lose control over her bowel functions and urinary habits.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Treating peripheral neuropathy is normally done in stages. The first stage is to determine whether there is some sort of underlying disease or trauma that is causing peripheral neuropathy to occur. Once that condition is identified, it can be treated. In the meantime, a doctor may help the person suffering from peripheral neuropathy to manage the pain through a variety of pain medications that either come in oral form or in a patch directly applied to the area.
  
  

Considerations

• There are many conditions that could cause peripheral neuropathy. There could be trauma to the head or spine that causes pressure or damage to the nervous system. Diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, cancer or diabetes could also trigger peripheral neuropathy. Exposure to some hazardous materials such as industrial solvents, lead, arsenic and inhaling toxic compounds can bring on a case of peripheral neuropathy.