If you’re experiencing tingling in your hands and/or feet, it could be a symptom of peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is a health condition in which the nerves are damaged, and it can cause a wide range of symptoms – but the most common sign of peripheral neuropathy is tingling in the extremities, especially in the hands and feet.
The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system comprises the nerves essentially everywhere else throughout the body. Neuropathy in the peripheral nervous system tends to occur most frequently in the areas of the body that are farthest away from the pumping action of the heart, so first the feet and lower legs and then the hands are affected.
Let’s discuss further what neuropathy is, what causes it, the major signs of peripheral neuropathy, and where you can go to get effective treatment for your peripheral neuropathy pain.
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy and What Causes It?
Neuropathy literally means nerve (neuro-) + suffering (-pathy). It occurs when the nerves have been damaged and do not function properly, which can result in chronic pain, weakness, and numbness. Peripheral neuropathy is most often due to diabetes, in which there is too much blood glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream, so circulation becomes sluggish in the blood vessels that are farthest away from the heart.
When circulation isn’t efficient in an area of the body, the nerve cells may not receive sufficient nutrients to survive. When blood flow is too slow due to high amounts of blood sugar, this can interfere with healthy nutrients reaching the nerve cells – and this can lead to peripheral neuropathy.
Neuropathy can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune disease
- Infection
- Cancer treatment
- Chronic inflammation
- Nutritional deficiencies
Essentially, any condition that negatively affects the nerves can lead to peripheral neuropathy and its signs of tingling in the hands and feet.
Most Common Signs of Peripheral Neuropathy
Everyone experiences tingling of the hands and feet from time to time, such as if you’ve been sitting with your legs crossed for a long time and you then get up suddenly, your feet will probably tingle. However, you may have peripheral neuropathy if you experience this tingling regularly or if you experience any of the other following symptoms:
- Pain or numbness in the hands and/or feet
- Burning or prickling sensations in the extremities
- Sensitivity to even the lightest touch
- Difficulty walking or balancing
- Weakness or paralysis in the arms or legs
Effective Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy
If you’re experiencing the typical hands and feet tingling signs of peripheral neuropathy, you don’t have to put up with the pain and odd sensations anymore. The Neuropathy Program here at NIVA Health offers comprehensive care for people with peripheral neuropathy.
Our program includes electrotherapy, which uses a gentle electrical current to block pain messages to the brain from damaged nerves, thereby eliminating pain. In addition, the electrical signals stimulate natural tissue regeneration and healing, which can lead to long-term relief from neuropathy pain and tingling in the hands and feet.
For more information about our program or to schedule an appointment, contact our location near you or fill out our appointment request form online now. If you’d like to hear about our approach and how it might work for you, schedule a complimentary consultation. We look forward to helping you get back to feeling like your normal self!
