Neuropathy

This article is a complete overview of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral nerves make up the peripheral nervous system. They branch out of the spinal cord to all parts of the body. Their nerve cells have three main parts: cell body, axons, and dendrites. Most often when a patient is diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, the damage is to the axons. Axons transmit signals betweennerve cells. Most are surrounded by myelin, a substance which helps the signal transmission. Poor nutrition, some diseases, and pressure or trauma may be the cause of peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include muscle weakness, cramps, spasms, loss of balance and coordination, burning or freezing sensations, sensitivity to touch, and the sensation of wearing a glove or sock. This article covers the types of neuropathy, signs and symptoms, prevalence, risk factors, among other information.