Understanding Polyneuropathy: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Sign In

All Posts Conditions About

Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.

Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.

All Conditions

Polyneuropathy

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Polyneuropathy is a condition in which a person’s peripheral nerves are damaged. It affects the nerves in your skin, muscles, and organs. When these nerves are damaged, they can’t send regular signals back to your brain.

91 people with Polyneuropathy are on Alike.

"Alike is the place to get answers from people who firsthand share your health challenges"

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms can vary depending on what’s causing them. The most common symptoms include: * random, odd sensations, known as paresthesia * sudden sharp pains * burning or tingling sensations, especially in your feet and hands, known as distal polyneuropathy * feeling extremely sensitive to touch, known as allodynia * numbness * feeling weak in your legs or arms (sometimes due to weak or atrophied muscles) * inability to walk straight, leading to stumbling or falling * trouble swallowing

Diagnosis

The doctor will likely perform several tests to decide whether you have polyneuropathy as well as what’s causing it. A full physical exam will help your doctor discover what parts of your body are most affected by your nerve damage and pain. A physical can also help your doctor find any weak or atrophied muscles that may have been affected by nerve damage. the doctor may also perform electrical nerve and muscle tests to see the extent of nerve damage. A blood test, urine samples, and biopsy of the area affected by nerve damage (sometimes including your nerves, too) will also help your doctor figure out the cause and extent of polyneuropathy. Other tests may be necessary if your doctor suspects an underlying condition. A spinal tap or lumbar puncture can help your doctor find out if your protein and white blood cell levels are abnormal. Abnormal results can mean that you have Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Treatment

Treatment of polyneuropathy depends on the condition that caused it. It can also depend on where in your body you feel symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may give you pain medications to help manage the pain and discomfort from nerve damage. These can include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

Alike Wisdom

Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences

Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.

About Alike Wisdom Blog FAQ Editorial Team All Conditions All Posts All Communities Support

Your Privacy Stories Community Guidelines Terms of Use Privacy Policy Helplines Contact Us Group Chats Guidelines Moderation Process