Nerve injuries Flashcards
What is the most common type of peripheral neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy
What is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy
Diabetes
What are the main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?
-numbness and tingling in the hands or feet
-burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas
-loss of balance and co-ordination
-muscle weakness, especially in the feet
causes of peripheral nerve injuries
-diabetes
-physical injury to nerves
-a viral infection, such as shingles, Lyme disease, diphtheria, botulism and HIV
-a side effect of certain medicines or drinking too much alcohol
-low levels of B12 or other vitamins
-inflammation of the blood vessels
-chronic liver disease or CKD
-lymphoma and multiple myeloma
-Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease
-Guillain-Barre syndrome
-amyloidosis
-health conditions caused by overactivity of the immune system, such as RA, lupus, Sjogern’s syndrome or coeliac disease
Complications of peripheral neuropathy
-foot ulcer that becomes infected-> gangrene
-may affect nerves controlling the automatic functions of the heart and circulation system (cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy)-> pacemaker
What is polyneuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy that affects all nerves in the body. Most common type. Starts by affecting the longest nerves first, so symptoms typically begin in the feet. Over time it gradually starts to affect shorter nerves, so feels as if it’s spreading upwards, and later affects the hands.
What is mononeuropathy?
Only 1 nerve is affected
What is mononeuritis multiplex?
Several nerves are affected
Symptoms of sensory neuropathy
pins and needles in the affected body part
numbness and less ability to feel pain or changes in temperature, particularly in your feet
a burning or sharp pain, usually in the feet
feeling pain from something that should not be painful at all, such as a very light touch
loss of balance or co-ordination caused by less ability to tell the position of the feet or hands
Symptoms of motor neuropathy
twitching and muscle cramps
muscle weakness or paralysis affecting one or more muscles
thinning (wasting) of muscles
difficulty lifting up the front part of your foot and toes, particularly noticeable when walking (foot drop)
Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy
constipation or diarrhoea, particularly at night
feeling sick, bloating and belching
low blood pressure, which can make you feel faint or dizzy when you stand up
rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
excessive sweating or a lack of sweating
problems with sexual function, such as erectile dysfunction in men
difficulty emptying your bladder of urine
loss of bowel control
Symptoms of mononeuropathy
Depending on the specific nerve affected, symptoms of mononeuropathy can include:
altered sensation or weakness in the fingers
double vision or other problems with focusing your eyes, sometimes with eye pain
weakness of one side of your face (Bell’s palsy)
foot or shin pain, weakness or altered sensation
What is the most common type of mononeuropathy?
Carpal tunnel syndrome
What nerve is compressed in carpal tunnel syndrome?
The median nerve
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
-an ache or pain in your fingers, hand or arm
-numb hands
-tingling or pins and needles
-a weak thumb or difficulty gripping
