Do you often feel tingling, burning, or numbness in your hands or feet? Are you dealing with sharp pains, muscle weakness, or balance issues? These symptoms might be easy to brush off at first, but they could point to something more serious, neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects the peripheral nervous system, which includes all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. These nerves control everything from how you move to how you feel temperature, pain, and pressure. When these nerves are damaged, it can cause a wide range of uncomfortable or even disabling symptoms.
But how do you know if it’s truly nerve damage, or something else entirely?
Common Signs of Neuropathy
Neuropathy symptoms vary depending on the type of nerves affected, sensory, motor, or autonomic. Here are the most common signs to look out for:
- Numbness or tingling: Often starting in the feet or hands, this “pins and needles” sensation is one of the earliest and most recognizable signs.
- Burning or sharp pain: Some people describe nerve pain as electric shocks or burning, especially at night.
- Muscle weakness: If nerves that control your muscles are affected, you may notice weakness, especially in the arms or legs.
- Loss of balance or coordination: Damage to sensory nerves can affect your ability to walk or maintain balance.
- Sensitivity to touch: Even light pressure from clothing or sheets can cause pain in some cases of neuropathy.
These symptoms tend to start gradually and worsen over time. While diabetes is the most common cause, other factors like infections, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, toxins, and injuries can also damage nerves.
When It Might Be Something Else
Not every symptom is automatically due to nerve damage. Similar sensations can arise from:
- Circulatory problems, like poor blood flow to the extremities
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, which compresses a nerve in the wrist but isn’t full-body neuropathy
- Arthritis, which can cause joint pain, stiffness, or nerve impingement
- Muscle strain or back injuries, which may cause referred pain or numbness
That’s why a proper diagnosis is key. Your doctor may order tests like nerve conduction studies, blood work, or imaging to determine whether your symptoms stem from nerve damage or another condition.
Don’t Ignore the Signs
The earlier neuropathy is diagnosed, the better the chances of slowing or even reversing its progression. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include lifestyle changes, medications, physical therapy, or regenerative therapies aimed at nerve repair.
If you notice symptoms like numbness, tingling, or unexplained pain, especially if they persist or worsen, talk to a healthcare provider. Whether it’s nerve damage or something else, getting to the root of the problem is the first step to feeling better.