Peripheral neuropathy, a result of nerve damage, often causes numbness and pain in your hands and feet. People typically describe the pain of peripheral neuropathy as tingling or burning, while they may compare the loss of sensation to the feeling of wearing a thin stocking or glove. Peripheral neuropathy can result from problems such as traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes. In many cases, peripheral neuropathy symptoms improve with time — especially if the condition is caused by an underlying condition that can be treated. A number of medications often are used to reduce the painful symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

• Symptoms

The nerves of your peripheral nervous system send information from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) to all other parts of your body and back again. Nerves that may be affected by peripheral neuropathy include:

* Sensory nerves that receive sensations such as heat, pain or touch
* Motor nerves that control how your muscles move
* Autonomic nerves that control functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and bladder function

Most commonly, peripheral neuropathy starts in the longest nerves — the ones that reach to your toes. Symptoms vary, depending on which types of nerves are affected. Signs and symptoms may include:

* Gradual onset of numbness and tingling in your feet or hands, which may spread upward into your legs and arms
* Burning pain
* Sharp, jabbing or electric-like pain
* Extreme sensitivity to touch, even light touch
* Lack of coordination
* Muscle weakness or paralysis if motor nerves are affected
* Bowel or bladder problems if autonomic nerves are affected

Peripheral neuropathy may affect one nerve (mononeuropathy), two or more nerves in different areas (multiple mononeuropathy) or many nerves (polyneuropathy).The nerves of your peripheral nervous system send information from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) to all other parts of your body and back again. Nerves that may be affected by peripheral neuropathy include:

* Sensory nerves that receive sensations such as heat, pain or touch
* Motor nerves that control how your muscles move
* Autonomic nerves that control functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and bladder function

Most commonly, peripheral neuropathy starts in the longest nerves — the ones that reach to your toes. Symptoms vary, depending on which types of nerves are affected. Signs and symptoms may include:

* Gradual onset of numbness and tingling in your feet or hands, which may spread upward into your legs and arms
* Burning pain
* Sharp, jabbing or electric-like pain
* Extreme sensitivity to touch, even light touch
* Lack of coordination
* Muscle weakness or paralysis if motor nerves are affected
* Bowel or bladder problems if autonomic nerves are affected

Peripheral neuropathy may affect one nerve (mononeuropathy), two or more nerves in different areas (multiple mononeuropathy) or many nerves (polyneuropathy).

• Risk factors :

*Diabetes, especially if your sugar levels are poorly controlled
* Alcohol abuse
* Vitamin deficiencies, particularly B vitamins
* Infections, such as Lyme disease, shingles (varicella-zoster), Epstein-Barr, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS
* Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, in which your immune system attacks your own tissues
* Kidney, liver or thyroid disorders
* Exposure to toxins
* Repetitive physical stress, possibly from occupational activities

• Diabetic Neuropathy

• Neuropathy means nerve disease or damage. Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by diabetes. People with diabetes often have high blood sugar levels. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage nerves throughout your body.
  
  There are three kinds of diabetic neuropathy.
  *Peripheral neuropathy is damage to peripheral nerves. These are the nerves that sense pain, touch, hot, and cold. They also affect movement and muscle strength. The nerves in the feet and lower legs are most often affected. This type of nerve damage can lead to serious foot problems. The damage usually gets worse slowly, over months or years.
  * Autonomic neuropathy is damage to autonomic nerves. These nerves control things like your heartbeat, blood pressure, sweating, digestion, urination, and sexual function.
  *Focal neuropathy affects just one nerve, usually in the wrist, thigh, or foot. It may also affect the nerves of your back and chest and those that control your eye muscles. This type of nerve damage usually happens suddenly.