How to Know if You're Dealing With Neuropathy

The most common places to suffer from nerve damage are the hands and feet. It’s called peripheral neuropathy, and it covers nerve damage anywhere outside of the brain and spinal cord. 

Autonomic, motor, and sensory nerves can all suffer from neuropathy, resulting in a wide range of effects and symptoms, some of which you might not even connect with damaged nerves. At Hudson Valley Foot Associates, we’re most concerned with the effects of neuropathy on your feet. 

It’s not always easy to recognize that you’re dealing with neuropathy, though there are associated conditions and risk factors that may point toward nerve damage. Let’s take a look at some of the most common examples. 

Reasons for neuropathy

Nerve damage could occur from something as simple as an injury. In other cases, neuropathy might be less obvious, such as when you have an autoimmune disorder like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or vasculitis. 

The most common cause of neuropathy, particularly when it affects the feet, is diabetes. About 50% of all diabetes patients develop some level of neuropathy. 

Autonomic neuropathy

Your body has many systems that work without conscious thought, like breathing or your heart beating. These are controlled by your autonomic nervous system. Autonomic neuropathy causes problems like bladder control issues, digestive problems, and excessive sweating. 

Motor neuropathy

Nerve signals control the information between the brain and muscles. When neuropathy affects your feet and lower legs, you could have problems like: 

• Muscle cramps
• Muscle weakness
• Reduced ability to move, such as curling your toes
• Balance issues 
• Coordination problems when standing or walking

Even basic actions such as climbing stairs could become troublesome if motor nerve damage interferes with your internal coordination. 

Sensory neuropathy

The most obvious symptoms of neuropathy in the feet result from sensory nerve damage. Sensations perceived from the skin hold a prominent place in our awareness, so it’s somewhat easier to recognize sensory changes. 

In the case of your feet, the most common signs of neuropathy include: 

• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Pain that presents as burning, sharpness, or throbbing
• “Pins and needles” sensations of prickling or tingling
• Increasing numbness
• The sensation that you’re wearing socks when you’re not

Your feet and toes may become so sensitive to touch that even the weight of a blanket causes strong pain reactions. 

Complications of neuropathy

Diabetes-related neuropathy is a significant condition for some patients, particularly when numbness increases. As well as damaging nerves, high blood sugar levels affect blood vessels in the feet. 

This means you could suffer a minor foot injury without being aware of it due to neuropathy. The wound could then be slow to heal because of impaired blood flow. 

A minor wound could progress to the point where it turns serious. Regular foot inspections and daily care help to prevent any surprises from these unseen and unfelt injuries. 

Call or click to book an appointment with any office of Hudson Valley Foot Associates if you require treatment for neuropathy or diabetic foot care. We have five locations in the Hudson Valley, so request an appointment today.