Sensorimotor polyneuropathy

Sensorimotor polyneuropathy is a condition that causes a decreased ability to move or feel (sensation) because of nerve damage.

Causes

Neuropathy means a disease of, or damage to nerves. When it occurs outside of the brain or spinal cord, it is called a peripheral neuropathy. Mononeuropathy means one nerve is involved. Polyneuropathy means that many nerves in different parts of the body are involved.

Neuropathy can affect nerves that provide feeling (sensory neuropathy) or cause movement (motor neuropathy). It can also affect both, in which case it is called a sensorimotor neuropathy.

Sensorimotor polyneuropathy is a bodywide (systemic) process that damages nerve cells, nerve fibers (axons), and nerve coverings ( myelin sheath). Damage to the covering of the nerve cell causes nerve signals to slow or stop. Damage to the nerve fiber or entire nerve cell can make the nerve stop working. Some neuropathies develop over years, while others can start and get severe within hours to days.

Myelin

Myelin is an insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty ...

Image

 

Read Article Now Book Mark Article

Nerve damage can be caused by:

• Autoimmune (when the body attacks itself) disorders
• Conditions that put pressure on nerves
• Decreased blood flow to the nerve
• Diseases that destroy the glue (connective tissue) that holds cells and tissues together
• Swelling (inflammation) of the nerves

Some diseases lead to polyneuropathy that is mainly sensory or mainly motor. Possible causes of sensorimotor polyneuropathy include:

• Alcoholic neuropathy

  Alcoholic neuropathy

  Alcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Cancer (called a paraneoplastic neuropathy)
• Chronic inflammatory neuropathy
• Diabetic neuropathy

  Diabetic neuropathy

  Nerve damage that occurs in people with diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. This condition is a complication of diabetes.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Drug-related neuropathy , including chemotherapy

  Drug-related neuropathy

  Neuropathy secondary to drugs is a loss of sensation or movement in a part of the body due to nerve damage from a certain medicine.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Guillain-Barré syndrome

  Guillain-Barré syndrome

  Guillain-Barré syndrome is a serious health problem that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the nervous system...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Hereditary neuropathy
• Vitamin deficiency ( vitamins B12 , B1 , and E)

  Vitamins B12

  Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. After the body uses these vitamins, leftover amounts leave the bo...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article

  B1

  Thiamin is one of the B vitamins. The B vitamins are a group of water-soluble vitamins that are part of many of the chemical reactions in the body....

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article

Symptoms

Symptoms may include any of the following:

• Decreased feeling in any area of the body
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Difficulty using the arms or hands
• Difficulty using the legs or feet
• Difficulty walking

  Difficulty walking

  Walking abnormalities are unusual and uncontrollable walking patterns. They are usually due to diseases or injuries to the legs, feet, brain, spinal...

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Pain, burning, tingling, or abnormal feeling in any area of the body (called neuralgia )

  Neuralgia

  Neuralgia is a sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve and is due to irritation or damage to the nerve. Common neuralgias include:Posth...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Weakness of the face, arms, or legs, or any area of the body

Symptoms may develop quickly (as in Guillain-Barré syndrome) or slowly over weeks to years. Symptoms usually occur on both sides of the body. Most often, they start at the ends of the toes first.

Exams and Tests

The health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. An exam may show:

• Decreased feeling (may affect touch, pain, vibration, or position sensation)
• Diminished reflexes (most commonly the ankle)
• Muscle atrophy

  Muscle atrophy

  Muscle atrophy is the wasting or loss of muscle tissue.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Muscle twitches

  Muscle twitches

  Muscle twitches are fine movements of a small area of muscle.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Muscle weakness
• Paralysis

  Paralysis

  Muscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article

Tests may include:

• Biopsy

  Biopsy

  A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Blood tests
• Electrical test of the muscles ( EMG )

  EMG

  Electromyography (EMG) is a test that checks the health of the muscles and the nerves that control the muscles.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Electrical test of nerve conduction

  Nerve conduction

  Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) is a test to see how fast electrical signals move through a nerve.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• X-rays or other imaging tests

Treatment

Goals of treatment include:

• Finding the cause
• Controlling the symptoms
• Promoting a person's self-care and independence

Depending on the cause, treatment may include:

• Changing medicines, if they are causing the problem
• Controlling blood sugar level, when the neuropathy is from diabetes
• Not drinking alcohol
• Taking daily nutritional supplements
• Medicines to treat the underlying cause of the polyneuropathy

PROMOTING SELF-CARE AND INDEPENDENCE

• Exercises and retraining to maximize function of the damaged nerves
• Job (vocational) therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Orthopedic treatments
• Physical therapy
• Wheelchairs, braces, or splints

CONTROL OF SYMPTOMS

Safety is important for people with neuropathy. Lack of muscle control and decreased sensation can increase the risk of falls or other injuries.

If you have movement difficulties, these measures can help keep you safe:

• Leave lights on.
• Remove obstacles (such as loose rugs that may slip on the floor).
• Test water temperature before bathing.
• Use railings.
• Wear protective shoes (such as those with closed toes and low heels).
• Wear shoes that have non-slippery soles.

Other tips include:

• Check your feet (or other affected area) daily for bruises, open skin areas, or other injuries, which you may not notice and can become infected.
• Check the inside of shoes often for grit or rough spots that may injure your feet.
• Visit a foot doctor (podiatrist) to assess and reduce the risk of injury to your feet.
• Avoid leaning on your elbows, crossing your knees, or being in other positions that put prolonged pressure on certain body areas.

Medicines used to treat this condition:

• Over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers to reduce stabbing pain ( neuralgia )

  Neuralgia

  Neuralgia is a sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve and is due to irritation or damage to the nerve. Common neuralgias include:Posth...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Anticonvulsants or antidepressants
• Lotions, creams, or medicated patches

Use pain medicine only when necessary. Keeping your body in the proper position or keeping bed linens off a tender body part may help control pain.

Support Groups

These groups can provide more information about neuropathy.

• Neuropathy Action Foundation: www.neuropathyaction.org
• The Foundation for Peripherial Neuropathy: www.foundationforpn.org/
• Neuropathy Support Network: www.neuropathysupportnetwork.org

Outlook (Prognosis)

In some cases, you can fully recover from peripheral neuropathy if your provider can find the cause and successfully treat it, and if the damage does not affect the entire nerve cell.

The amount of disability varies. Some people have no disability. Others have partial or complete loss of movement, function, or feeling. Nerve pain may be uncomfortable and may last for a long time.

In some cases, sensorimotor polyneuropathy causes severe, life-threatening symptoms.

Possible Complications

Problems that may result include:

• Deformity
• Injury to feet (caused by bad shoes or hot water when stepping into the bathtub)
• Numbness
• Pain
• Trouble walking
• Weakness
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing (in severe cases)

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if you have loss of movement or feeling in a part of your body. Early diagnosis and treatment increase the chance of controlling the symptoms.