|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| "Preach the Gospel at All Times, If Necessary Use Words." - St. Francis of Assisi | ||||||||||||||
Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder resulting from an injury to peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves are located outside the brain and spinal cord and usually limited to your fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet, and legs. There are sensory and motor peripheral nerves which may impact daily functioning. Sensory nerves help you feel pain, temperature, vibration, position, and touch. Motor nerves help you move and maintain muscle tone.
Diabetic damage to autonomic, motor and/or sensory nerves can be results from metabolic and/or vascular changes in patients with long term diabetes mellitus. Symptoms may include loss of sensation, or unpleasant sensations in the feet, loss of ability to maintain focal sensory or motor deficits. Sensory loss in the feet may result in injuries that are undetected. When these injuries are ignored or not detected they may become infected or gangrenous.
Diabetes is not the only cause of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is also caused by:
Here are a few of my favorite links to assist you and love ones in understanding peripheral neuropathies.
Diabetic Neuropathies: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes
Merck Manuals Online Medical Library
Additional links to various forms of mononeuropathy and polyneuropathy.
http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec16/ch223/ch223i.html
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse - Diabetic Neuropathy
This web page was created by the US National Institutes of Health and provides very detailed information on diabetic neuropathy. See also
NIH NINDS - Peripheral Neuropathy Information Page
The Neuropathy Association
The Neuropathy Association is a public, nonprofit organization that provides general information and support groups
Below are additional organizations that assist with pain management and patient information:
| American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) P.O. Box 850 Rocklin, CA 95677-0850 ACPA@pacbell.net http://www.theacpa.org Tel: 916-632-0922 800-533-3231 Fax: 916-632-3208 |
National Chronic Pain Outreach Association (NCPOA) P.O. Box 274 Millboro, VA 24460 http://www.chronicpain.org Tel: 540-862-9437 Fax: 540-862-9485 |
| Neuropathy Association 60 East 42nd Street Suite 942 New York, NY 10165-0999 info@neuropathy.org http://www.neuropathy.org Tel: 212-692-0662 Fax: 212-692-0668 |
National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain P.O. Box 70045 Houston, TX 77270 markgordon@paincare.org http://www.paincare.org Tel: 713-862-9332 Fax: 713-862-9346 |
| American Pain Foundation 201 North Charles Street Suite 710 Baltimore, MD 21201-4111 info@painfoundation.org http://www.painfoundation.org Tel: 888-615-PAIN (7246) Fax: 410-385-1832 |
National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) 3 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3580 nkudic@info.niddk.nih.gov http://www.niddk.nih.gov Tel: 301-654-4415 800-891-5390 |
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Controlling sugar levels, by following diet and exercise may prevent some peripheral neuropathy symptoms in patients with diabetes mellitus. May we all implement the preventive lifestyles necessary for physical, spiritual, mental health and happiness.
Peace and Blessings,
Donna
Donna is an inspirational and business development speaker. Areas include psycho-social issues, sales, marketing and customer service. She is currently a primary care pharmaceutical sales representative. Contact Donna at Donna4RealityChk@aol.com