What is the difference between polyneuropathy and peripheral neuropathy

Those with diabetes and other conditions related to polyneuropathy should closely follow the treatment plan devised by their doctor, as well as ensure that they attend all check-ups. The outlook for polyneuropathy varies and can depend on the underlying cause, which nerves are damaged and the extent of the damage. For some people, treating the underlying cause can lead to improvements. For others, the damage is permanent. In some cases, symptoms may get worse over time.

If any of the symptoms of polyneuropathy are experienced such as weakness, pain, or tingling in the hands or feet it is important to see a doctor. Implementing a treatment plan as soon as possible is important to manage symptoms and prevent further nerve damage. A look at chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy CIDP , a condition that leads to nerve damage. Included is detail on treatment. Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage that affects a range of nerves in the bodies of some people with diabetes.

It can lead to paralysis and might have…. Trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve disorder that causes abrupt, searing pain in the face and jaw. It affects about one million people worldwide and is…. Demyelination is damage to the myelin layer, or the protective coating of nerve cells.

This can lead to neurological problems, including slow reflexes. When a person has diabetes, their body does not manage blood sugar correctly, leading to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. This can result in…. Doctors use terms such as predominantly motor neuropathy, predominantly sensory neuropathy, sensory-motor neuropathy, or autonomic neuropathy to describe different conditions. In severe cases, such neuropathies can spread upwards toward the central parts of the body.

In non-length dependent polyneuropathies, the symptoms can start more toward the torso, or are patchy. Motor nerve damage is most commonly associated with muscle weakness. Other symptoms include painful cramps, fasciculations uncontrolled muscle twitching visible under the skin and muscle shrinking. Sensory nerve damage causes various symptoms because sensory nerves have a broad range of functions.

Autonomic nerve damage affects the axons in small-fiber neuropathies. Common symptoms include excess sweating, heat intolerance, inability to expand and contract the small blood vessels that regulate blood pressure, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Although rare, some people develop problems eating or swallowing if the nerves that control the esophagus are affected. There are several types of peripheral neuropathies, the most common of which is linked to diabetes. Common types of focal located to just one part of the body mononeuropathy include carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the hand and the wrist, and meralgia paresthetica, which causes numbness and tingling on one thigh.

Complex regional pain syndrome is a class of lingering neuropathies where small-fibers are mostly damaged. Acquired neuropathies are either symptomatic the result of another disorder or condition; see below or idiopathic meaning it has no known cause. Genetically-caused polyneuropathies are rare.

Genetic mutations can either be inherited or arise de novo , meaning they are completely new mutations to an individual and are not present in either parent. Some genetic mutations lead to mild neuropathies with symptoms that begin in early adulthood and result in little, if any, significant impairment. More severe hereditary neuropathies often appear in infancy or childhood.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, is one of the most common inherited neurological disorders. The small-fiber neuropathies that present with pain, itch, and autonomic symptoms also can be genetic. As our understanding of genetic disorders increases, many new genes are being associated with peripheral neuropathy.

The bewildering array and variability of symptoms that neuropathies can cause often makes diagnosis difficult. A diagnosis of neuropathy typically includes:. Muscle and nerve ultrasound is a noninvasive experimental technique for imaging nerves and muscles for injury such as a severed nerve or a compressed nerve.

Ultrasound imaging of the muscles can detect abnormalities that may be related to a muscle or nerve disorder. Certain inherited muscle disorders have characteristic patterns on muscle ultrasound.

Treatments depend entirely on the type of nerve damage, symptoms, and location. Your doctor will explain how nerve damage is causing specific symptoms and how to minimize and manage them. With proper education, some people may be able to reduce their medication dose or manage their neuropathy without medications. Definitive treatment can permit functional recovery over time, as long as the nerve cell itself has not died.

Correcting underlying causes can result in the neuropathy resolving on its own as the nerves recover or regenerate. Treatment options for mononeuropathy include many of the types of pain medications used to treat polyneuropathy.

Also, pressure on the affected nerve can be relieved by surgery or steroid injections that reduce swelling. Additional reporting by Joseph Bennington-Castro. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: May 8, Medically Reviewed. Among the most encountered patterns of polyneuropathy are the following: 3 Chronic symmetrical peripheral neuropathy The largest group of polyneuropathies, they develop gradually over time and affect nerves throughout the body.

Multiple mononeuropathy Involving damage to at least two distinct nerve areas, this form of polyneuropathy can result from vasculitis inflammation of the blood vessels , sarcoidosis, and some forms of cancer. Diabetes Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which affects between 12 percent and 50 percent of people with diabetes, is the most common form of polyneuropathy. They think, 'I just sprained my ankle'. Facebook Twitter. Hyperalgesia , a dramatic or severe pain in response to a stimulus that normally causes mild pain.

Common forms of mononeuropathy include: Carpal tunnel syndrome also known as median nerve dysfunction , which affects movement and sensation in the hand and fingers. Axillary nerve dysfunction, which affects movement or sensation in the shoulder.

Radial nerve dysfunction, which involves problems with movement and sensation in the arm, wrist, back of the arm and hand. Cubital tunnel syndrome, also known as ulnar nerve dysfunction, which affects sensation and strength in the arm, palm, and ring and little fingers.

Common peroneal and femoral nerve dysfunctions, which affect movement and sensation in the lower extremities. The symptoms and body parts affected by peripheral neuropathy are so varied that it may be hard to make a diagnosis. If your healthcare provider suspects nerve damage, he or she will take an extensive medical history and do a number of neurological tests to determine the location and extent of your nerve damage.

These may include:. Depending on what basic tests reveal, your healthcare provider may want to do more in-depth scanning and other tests to get a better look at your nerve damage.

Tests may include:. If an underlying condition like diabetes is at fault, your healthcare provider will treat that first and then treat the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy. In some cases, over-the-counter pain relievers can help. Other times, prescription medicines are needed. Some of these medicines include mexiletine, a medicine developed to correct irregular heart rhythms; antiseizure drugs, such as gabapentin, phenytoin, and carbamazepine; and some classes of antidepressants, including tricyclics such as amitriptyline.

Lidocaine injections and patches may help with pain in other instances. And in extreme cases, surgery can be used to destroy nerves or repair injuries that are causing neuropathic pain and symptoms. Lifestyle choices can play a role in preventing peripheral neuropathy. You can lessen your risk for many of these conditions by avoiding alcohol, correcting vitamin deficiencies, eating a healthy diet, losing weight, avoiding toxins, and exercising regularly.

If you have kidney disease, diabetes, or other chronic health condition, it is important to work with your healthcare provider to control your condition, which may prevent or delay the onset of peripheral neuropathy.

Even if you already have some form of peripheral neuropathy, healthy lifestyle steps can help you feel your best and reduce the pain and symptoms related to the disorder.