What Is Peripheral Neuropathy Foot Pain?

Let’s talk a little about peripheral neuropathy foot pain.

Peripheral Neuropathy is a conditions when the nerves that connect to the brain and the spinal cord are damaged or diseased. The peripheral nerves make up an intricate network that connects the brin and spinal cord to the muscles, skin, and internal organs.

Peripheral nerves come out of the spinal cord and are arranged along the lines in the body called dermatomes. Typically, damage to a nerve will affect one or more dermatomes, which can be tracked to specific areas of the body.

Damage to these nerves interrupts comminication between the brain and other parts of the body and can impair muscle movement, prevent normal sensation in the arms and legs, and cause pain.

Peripheral Neuropathy Foot Pain

There are many different kinds of peripheral neuropathy with many different causes.

These range from carpal tunnel syndrom (an injury common after chronic repetitive use of the hands and wrists, such as computer use) to Guillain-Barre syndrome (a rare, sudden paralysis). Peripheral Neuropathy can also affect your arms, feet, and face.

This problem can occur due to the following:

• Injury
• Systemic illness
• Infection
• Or inherited disorder

If faced with this problem in your feet, you’ll likely feel a tingling sensation, numbness, and even sharp pain.

As a group, peripheral neuropathies are common, especially among people ove the age of 55. All together, the conditions affect 3-4% of people in this group.

Neuropathies are typically classified according to the problems they cause or what is at the root of the damage. There also are terms that express how extensively the nerves have been damaged.

Mononeuropathy

Damage to a single peripheral nerve is called mononeuropathy.

Physical injury or trauma such as from an accident is the most common cause. Prolonged pressure on a nerve, caused by extended periods being sedentary such as in a wheelchair or bed, or continuous, repetitive motions can trigger mononeuropathy.

If the fibrous, shock-absorbing discs that lie between the bones in the back are damaged, they could press on a nerve and cause this type of neuropathy.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common type of mononeuropathy.

It is called an overuse strain injury, which occurs when the nerve that extends through the wrist is compressed. People whose work requires repeated motions with the wrist extended (such as assembly-line workers, physical laborers, and those who use computer keyboards for prolonged periods) are at greater risk.