Neuropathy

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Someone meantioned leg problem's and neuropathy. This is just a few excerpts i found and pasted to word. Type neuropathy into browser and there are a lot of em.I also have chemical induced neuropathy due to chemical agents. no fun here.Hope it helpsIf anyone want's links to full article let me know.sorry for mixed up paragraphs. Hepatitis C neuropathy · Flavivirus with primarily parenteral transmission · Most common cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis; can cause asymptomatic disease as well as symptomatic acute and chronic hepatitis · Usually a progressive, symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy with superimposed mononeuropathies; pain with generalized or

multifocal weakness; paraesthesias can be precipitated by cold · Can be associated with cryoglobulins, abnormal liver function tests, hepatitis C antibody, and PCR positivity for hepatitis C genome · Nerve biopsy can show inflammation and possibly vasculitis · Treatment with interferon alpha and ribavirin, and possibly with

immunomodulatory therapies What is Peripheral Neuropathy? Peripheral Neuropathy is one of the most common diseases most people have never heard of…in fact, upwards of 20 million Americans have it. Peripheral neuropathy is caused by damage to your body’s peripheral nerves. This damage disrupts the body’s ability to communicate with its muscles, skin, joints, or internal organs. It is like the body’s wiring system breaking down. If ignored, neuropathy can lead to numbness, pain, weakness and incoordination. However, if it is diagnosed and treated early, peripheral neuropathy can often be controlled, slowing the disease’s progression. What is Peripheral Neuropathy? Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body. More than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified, each with its own characteristic

set of symptoms, pattern of development, and prognosis. Impaired function and symptoms depend on the type of nerves -- motor, sensory, or autonomic -- that are damaged. Some people may experience temporary numbness, tingling, and pricking sensations, sensitivity to touch, or muscle weakness. Others may suffer more extreme symptoms, including burning pain (especially at night), muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ or gland dysfunction. Peripheral neuropathy may be either inherited or acquired. Causes of acquired peripheral neuropathy include physical injury (trauma) to a nerve, tumors, toxins, autoimmune responses, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism, and vascular and metabolic disorders. Acquired peripheral neuropathies are caused by systemic disease, trauma from external agents, or infections or autoimmune disorders affecting nerve tissue. Inherited forms of peripheral neuropathy are caused by inborn mistakes in the genetic code or by new genetic mutations.

Is there any treatment? No medical treatments exist that can cure inherited peripheral neuropathy. However, there are therapies for many other forms. In general, adopting healthy habits -- such as maintaining optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins, following a physician-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet, correcting vitamin

deficiencies, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption -- can reduce the physical and emotional effects of peripheral neuropathy. Systemic diseases frequently require more complex treatments. What is the prognosis? In acute neuropathies, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, symptoms appear suddenly, progress rapidly, and resolve slowly as damaged nerves

heal. In chronic forms, symptoms begin subtly and progress slowly. Some people may have periods of relief followed by relapse. Others may reach a plateau stage where symptoms stay the same for many months or years. Some chronic neuropathies worsen over time, but very few forms prove fatal unless complicated by other diseases. Occasionally the neuropathy is a symptom of another disorder. What research is being done? The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct research related to peripheral neuropathies in laboratories at the NIH and also support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current research projects funded by the NINDS involve investigations of genetic

factors associated with hereditary neuropathies, studies of biological mechanisms involved in diabetes-associated neuropathies, and investigations exploring how the immune system contributes to peripheral nerve damage. Neuropathic pain is a primary target of NINDS-sponsored studies aimed at developing more effective therapies for symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Some scientists hope to identify substances that will block the brain chemicals that generate pain signals, while others are investigating the pathways by which pain signals reach the brain.

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