Neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy, refers to damage to the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. Neuropathy can impact nerves throughout the body and result in symptoms in the hands, feet, arms, legs, and other areas.
What is neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a result of damage to the peripheral nerves. There are several types of peripheral neuropathy, including:
- Diabetic neuropathy – Caused by high blood sugar levels damaging nerves.
- Idiopathic neuropathy – No known cause.
- Autoimmune neuropathy – Caused by autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Infection-related neuropathy – Caused by infections like HIV/AIDS, Lyme disease, shingles.
- Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy – A side effect of chemotherapy.
- Traumatic neuropathy – Caused by physical injury to nerves.
When nerves are damaged, it disrupts their ability to send signals from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body. This can result in pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and other symptoms depending on which nerves are impacted.
What causes neuropathy?
There are a number of potential causes of peripheral neuropathy, including:
- Diabetes: High blood sugar levels associated with diabetes are a major cause of neuropathy. Up to 50% of people with diabetes develop some type of neuropathy.
- Autoimmune diseases: Conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome can cause inflammation and damage to nerves.
- Infections: Shingles, HIV/AIDS, Lyme disease, leprosy, and hepatitis C can damage peripheral nerves.
- Trauma/injury: Broken bones, sprains, car accidents, sports injuries, or repetitive stress can injure peripheral nerves.
- Toxins: Alcoholism, chemicals, and certain medications like chemotherapy drugs can be toxic to nerves.
- Vitamin deficiencies: Not getting enough B vitamins (B1, B6, B12, etc) may impact healthy nerve function.
- Other conditions: Kidney disease, liver disease, hypothyroidism, tumors, and exposure to heavy metals have also been linked to neuropathy.
In up to 30% of neuropathies, no specific cause can be identified (idiopathic).
What are the symptoms of neuropathy?
Symptoms of neuropathy can vary greatly depending on the type of nerves damaged and where they are located in the body. Some common symptoms include:
- Numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, arms, or legs
- Sharp, shooting, burning, or stabbing pain
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Lack of coordination and balance
- Muscle weakness
- Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up
- Heat and cold intolerance in hands and feet
- Indigestion, nausea, vomiting, or constipation
- Urinary incontinence
- Sexual dysfunction
- Difficulty sweating normally
Symptoms are often worse at night and may spread from the feet and hands up towards the center of the body as neuropathy progresses.
Can neuropathy spread throughout the whole body?
Yes, neuropathy can sometimes start in one localized area but spread to affect the entire body. This occurs when damage to the peripheral nervous system becomes more widespread. Some ways this spread can happen include:
- The underlying cause of neuropathy worsens or continues unchecked, putting nerves throughout the body at risk. For example, uncontrolled diabetes can progressively damage nerves in all extremities.
- The immune system mistakenly attacks nerves in one area, then spreads to attack more nerves. This may happen with autoimmune neuropathies.
- A disease that damages nerves like shingles or Lyme spreads to new areas and nerves.
- Injured nerves send aberrant signals to the spinal cord and brain, causing ascending neuropathy that moves up the body.
- A tumor or lesion compressing a single nerve spreads to put pressure on multiple nerves.
In some cases, symptoms may seem to jump between different areas rather than progressively spreading. For example, you might first notice neuropathy symptoms in your feet, which improve, then new symptoms emerge in your hands.
Types of neuropathy that can affect the whole body
Some common types of neuropathy that can impact nerves throughout the body include:
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
50% or more of diabetics develop neuropathy as a result of chronic high blood sugar damaging peripheral nerves. Symptoms often start in the feet and hands but can spread up the legs and arms in a stocking-glove distribution. Autonomic nerves can also be affected, causing issues like digestive problems and bladder dysfunction.
Autoimmune neuropathies
Autoimmune conditions like celiac disease, lupus, and Guillain-Barre syndrome cause the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy nerve cells. This can cause widespread peripheral nerve damage potentially affecting the whole body. Weakness, numbness, and tingling often starts in the feet and hands.
Small fiber neuropathy
Small fiber neuropathy impacts the small sensory nerves in skin and internal organs. It can be caused by diabetes, autoimmune disease, infections, and toxin exposure. Unexplained pain, gastrointestinal issues, sweating abnormalities, and heart rate changes may indicate small nerves throughout the body are damaged.
Alcoholic neuropathy
Chronic heavy alcohol use is toxic to nerves. Alcoholic neuropathy symptoms start with numbness and pain in the feet and hands, but often spread up the limbs and to other areas. Autonomic nerves can also be affected leading to digestive, bladder, and cardiac symptoms.
Diagnosing neuropathy that affects the whole body
To diagnose widespread peripheral neuropathy, doctors consider symptoms, medical history, a neurological exam, and may order tests like:
- Blood tests to look for diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, kidney/liver disease, autoimmune conditions, and infections.
- Nerve conduction studies to measure how well nerves transmit signals.
- EMG to evaluate muscle and nerve abnormalities.
- Skin biopsy to count small fiber sensory nerves.
- MRI or CT scan to look for a mass or lesion compressing nerves.
Finding the underlying cause is key to treating neuropathy affecting the whole body. Treating the cause can potentially stop neuropathy from worsening and spreading further.
Can whole body neuropathy be treated?
There is no cure for most neuropathies. But several treatment approaches can help manage symptoms and potentially slow progression:
- Treating underlying cause: Tightly controlling diabetes and autoimmune diseases may limit further nerve damage.
- Pain medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription medications help control neuropathic pain.
- Topical treatments: Capsaicin creams, lidocaine patches, and other topical treatments can locally reduce pain.
- Anti-seizure drugs: Medications like gabapentin help calm down damaged nerve fibers and reduce pain.
- Physical therapy: Stretching, strengthening exercises, and modalities like heat/cold therapy bring relief.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): TENS units send small electrical pulses to nerve fibers, modifying pain signals.
- Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking, losing weight, eating a balanced diet, and limiting alcohol intake.
Treatment is most effective when started early. Work closely with your doctor to find the right treatment protocol for your type of neuropathy.
| Medication | How It Works | Side Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Gabapentin | Binds to calcium channels in nerves, reducing excitability | Drowsiness, dizziness, swelling |
| Pregabalin | Binds to calcium channels, blocks pain signals | Dizziness, sleepiness, blurred vision |
| Duloxetine | Increases serotonin/norepinephrine, altering pain perception | Nausea, dry mouth, constipation |
| Amitriptyline | Blocks reuptake of neurotransmitters | Drowsiness, dry mouth, weight gain |
Lifestyle changes for whole body neuropathy
Making certain lifestyle adjustments can provide relief from neuropathic symptoms and support your overall treatment plan:
- Quit smoking – Smoking worsens nerve damage and circulation.
- Exercise regularly – Light physical activity improves strength, balance, and circulation.
- Stretching and range of motion exercises – Prevent contractures and loosen stiff, painful joints.
- Massage therapy – Helps relax muscles and improve blood flow.
- Relaxation techniques – Reduce stress, which can worsen pain perception.
- Adequate sleep – Allows nerves time to recover and replenish.
- Healthy diet – Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
- Limit alcohol – Heavy alcohol consumption causes further nerve damage.
- Wear appropriate footwear – Cushioned, toe-box shoes prevent foot injuries.
- Use assistive devices if needed – Braces, orthotics, scooters, or wheelchairs can aid mobility.
What is the prognosis for whole body neuropathy?
The long-term outlook for widespread peripheral neuropathy depends on the underlying cause:
- Diabetic neuropathy related to high blood sugars may stabilize if diabetes is brought under tight control.
- Autoimmune neuropathy may improve by treating the autoimmune condition with immunosuppressants.
- Infectious neuropathies can resolve if the infection is cured with antibiotics or antivirals.
- Toxic neuropathies tend to steadily worsen as the toxin exposure continues.
- Idiopathic neuropathy often slowly progresses over time.
While some types of neuropathy are reversible if caught early, peripheral nerves have limited ability to heal once there is significant damage. Treatment aims to halt progression and manage debilitating symptoms.
Can neuropathy lead to death?
Neuropathy itself does not directly cause death in most cases. However, it can contribute to potentially life-threatening complications:
- Severe autonomic neuropathy can impact regulation of blood pressure, breathing, heart rate, and digestion which may be fatal.
- Foot ulcers and infections due to loss of sensation can lead to limb amputation or sepsis.
- Weakened muscles increasing fall risk can result in fatal injuries.
- Cardiac arrhythmias may develop from damaged heart nerves.
- Suicide is a risk due to severe, unrelenting neuropathic pain and declining quality of life.
While concerning, most of these complications can be avoided with prompt treatment and proactive monitoring by your medical team. Work closely with your doctor to reduce risks and maintain your health.
How to cope with whole body neuropathy
Living with widespread progressive neuropathy can greatly impact quality of life. Some tips for coping day-to-day include:
- Communicate regularly with your doctors and keep up with treatments.
- Find an integrated pain management plan that works for you.
- Consider joining a support group to connect with others experiencing neuropathy.
- Identify and avoid triggers that exacerbate your symptoms.
- Stick to a daily routine with scheduled rest periods.
- Use assistive devices for impaired functions like walking, dressing, or grip.
- Set up your environment to be safe and accessible.
- Stay active and maintain social connections.
- Explore complementary wellness therapies like acupuncture, meditation, or massage.
- Focus on what you can still do and set achievable goals.
Coping with neuropathy affecting your whole body presents daily challenges. With patience and by working closely with your support system, you can find ways to manage your symptoms and still live life on your own terms.
Conclusion
Neuropathy stemming from diabetes, autoimmune disease, toxins, or nerve compression can sometimes spread from isolated areas to affect the entire body. Widespread peripheral nerve damage causes symptoms like pain, numbness, gastrointestinal issues, and weakness. While not curable, several treatment approaches can slow progression and provide symptom relief. Controlling any underlying condition, along with lifestyle changes and pain management, helps improve quality of life. Coping with whole body neuropathy presents challenges, but strong social support and integrating accommodations into daily life can help you manage.