You've had awak what neurellil', your handy or foot, (orve experience dihat, neuropathy can tell life: Aplopsty is g concle pe raneral hy. damage or disease to He eves (usually, the. peripheral nerves) that cally; messages from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of me body. The peripheral nerves are part of an elaborate network connecting the spinal cord and brain to muscles, sin, and internal organs. People who experience neuropathy feel numbness, tingling, pain and weakness, Mostly in their hands and feet. It may occur episodically, or progress gradually over years. According to the Neuropathy Association (NA), for 40 percent of people with neuropathy, it is caused by nerve compressions (pinched nerves), infections, auto-immune disorders, hereditary factors, nutrient imbalances, tumors or toxins. Another 30 percent of neuropathy cases are due to diabetes, and the final 30 percent are caused by unknown reasons.
Neuropathy is caused by damage to the fibers that affect physical sensation. Damage to nerves can be caused by many different things, including herniated or arthritic spines, injuries, drugs, high cholesterol and high triglycerides, pinched nerves or diabetes. Other contributing factors include chemical imbalances such as those with a metabolic liver disease. Endocrine disorders that lead to hormonal imbalances can disturb normal metabolic processes and cause neuropathies as well.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of neuropathy and which nerves are affected.
Neuropathic Arthropathy, also called Charcot's Joint, occurs when a joint breaks down due to a problem with the nerves. This condition most often occurs in the foot, causing the person to lose almost all sensation, including the inability to feel pain. Muscles lose their ability to support the joint properly, making walking very unstable. Injuries, such as a twisted ankle, causes further inflammation, making the condition even worse. The joint in the foot can become dislocated, leading to the bone structure in the foot to collapse. Eventually, the foot will heal, however, due to the bone structure breaking down, it will be deformed.
People most at risk for developing Neuropathic Arthropathy are those who already have peripheral neuropathy, as well as those with diabetes mellitus, leprosy, syphilis, poliomyelitis, chronic alcoholism or syringomyelia.
Symptoms include:
If fractures and dislocations occur, there may be severe deformities in the foot and ankle, including collapse of the mid-foot arch.