Neuropathy. Symptoms, causes, treatment

The human nervous system has a complex and at the same fine structure. It is easily exposed to various factors, both internal and external origin. As a result, non-inflammatory nerves often occur. In medicine, this disease is called "neuropathy." Symptoms of the disease, depending on the form of pathology, can be very diverse. The clinical picture is determined both by the nature of the lesion of the nerves, and by their location. In medicine, there are three forms of the disease: toxic, diabetic, post-traumatic.

Neuropathy. Causes

Post-traumatic form occurs as a result of a bruise, fracture or cut. If even the nerve has not been damaged by direct exposure, then the swelling, scars formed during wound healing, and other neoplasms can squeeze it. Thus, there is post-traumatic neuropathy. The toxic form of the disease manifests itself in various kinds of poisoning. The defeat of nerves can occur with intoxication with chemicals (lead, alcohol, arsenic), with infectious diseases (HIV, diphtheria, hermetic infection) or illiterate intake of certain medicines. The next most common form of the disease is diagnosed in people suffering from diabetes. This disease affects small vessels, including those that are responsible for supplying nerve endings with blood. As a result, there is a diabetic neuropathy. Symptoms of this disease are associated with a decrease in sensitivity in damaged areas. The disease affects mostly the lower extremities.

Symptoms

Patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy experience numbness or tingling in the area of the affected nerve. Possible loss of sensitivity of the fingers or toes, thighs, lower leg, buttocks. In some cases, the work of the genitourinary system or digestive organs is disrupted. Post-traumatic neuropathy, whose symptoms are associated with lesion of the radial, sciatic, or ulnar nerves, is characterized by the development of muscle atrophy. At the same time, their contractility is disturbed, reflexes and sensitivity to pain stimuli decrease. Partial loss of sensitivity in the hands and feet, tingling and burning of the skin, hyperemia of the limbs - all these are signs of another form of the disease called "toxic neuropathy". Symptoms of the disease in the later stages are characterized by the formation of edema of the tissues of predominantly lower extremities.

How to treat neuropathy?

In the diabetic form of the disease, special attention should be given to getting rid of the underlying ailment. Only after this it is possible to deal with the treatment of damaged nerves. For these purposes, an experienced doctor prescribes pain medication, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs. It is also necessary to take complexes of vitamins B. Favorable effects on the nervous system are provided by baths with therapeutic mineral water, physiotherapy, physical education and other rehabilitation activities.