What Happens in Peripheral Neuropathy

As a follow up to yesterday's post describing the range and progression of symptoms associated with neuropathy, today's post is a little more specific in helping us understand what's going on in our nervous system. It is once again taken from the excellent Medifocushealth site (see link below)and explains clearly the effects of neuropathy on different nerve types.
Please note, they are very careful to use the words, 'can' and 'may' as often as possible because as we know from previous posts, every individual case of neuropathy can take its own course.

What Happens in Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy develops as a result of injury or damage to any of the three types of nerves in the peripheral nervous system. Symptoms of an individual's peripheral neuropathy depend upon which types of nerves are injured, for example:

• Sensory nerves - Damage to sensory nerves can produce symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, burning, or a loss of sensation or feeling. The pain usually begins in the hands or feet and progresses towards the trunk of the body. Lack of sensation can cause other complications relating to recurrent injuries that may go unnoticed, (e.g., awareness of cuts or burns to the skin) and can lead to ulcers or poor healing of wounds. The nerve damage in sensory peripheral neuropathy may be found in either large fibers or small fibers. The symptoms of sensory peripheral neuropathy can be intermittent or continuous and can significantly interfere with quality of life.

• Motor nerves - Damage to motor nerves results in decreased movement or control of muscles. Since movement is important for the health of many organ systems (such as promoting increased blood circulation), damage to motor function can also lead to abnormal changes in muscle, bone, skin, and other organs. Symptoms of damage to peripheral motor nerves usually begin as weakness or heaviness of the hands and/or feet and may deteriorate over time.

• Peripheral nerves that link to the autonomic nervous system affect involuntary body functions and damage can result in:
◦cardiac symptoms (e.g., heart rate irregularities, orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure when standing up from a sitting position)
◦impaired ability to regulate body temperature
◦blurred vision
◦reduced sweating
◦dizziness
◦bowel/bladder dysfunction
◦sexual dysfunction

There are many types of neuropathy included under the category of peripheral neuropathy and the etiology, symptoms, progression rate, pattern of symptoms, recurrence, and response to treatment vary widely.

http://www.medifocushealth.com/NR021/Introduction-to-Peripheral-Neuropathy_What-Happens-in-Peripheral-Neuropathy-.php