Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Peripheral neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. This damage is caused by other illnesses, such as:

• Alcoholism
• Amyloidosis
• Autoimmune disorders, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Bell's palsy
• Cancer
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic kidney failure
• Connective tissue disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and sarcoidosis
• Diabetes mellitus -- nearly 60 percent of all people with diabetes suffer from peripheral neuropathy
• Infectious disease, such as Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B
• Liver failure
• Radiculopathy
• Vitamin deficiencies

Although there are numerous causes of peripheral neuropathies, they do share some common symptoms including:

• Weakness, numbness and pain in the hands, legs and/or feet
• Paresthesia -- a condition that causes abnormal sensations such as burning, tickling, pricking or tingling

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007