Have you started experiencing pain, numbness, or a tingling sensation? You might want to visit a doctor. It’s possible you’re experiencing nerve damage symptoms.
Over 20 million people in the US have some form of peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms can range from mild, disabling, to even life-threatening. You could experience symptoms for days, weeks, or years.
It helps to know what to look out for before visiting a doctor. Here are five telltale signs of peripheral neuropathy to track. If these symptoms sound familiar, visit a doctor right away.
Due to its complex range of symptoms, neuropathy is often misdiagnosed. It’s important to visit a specialist.
Read on to learn more about symptoms that could indicate you’ve sustained nerve damage.
Table of Contents
1. Pain
About 20.4% of American adults experience chronic pain. Of these, 7.4% experience pain that limits their daily activities. In some cases, chronic pain could indicate you have peripheral neuropathy.
You might experience neuropathic pain, which is burning, jabbing, or sharp in nature.
You might also notice the affected areas have become sensitive to temperature or touch.
2. Numbness and Tingling
If your peripheral nerves sustain damage, you might experience numbness and tingling. Usually, these nerve damage symptoms affect the outer extremities first. For example, you might notice your hands and feet tingle.
Over time, the sensation could travel up the arms and legs.
Paresthesias is a common symptom as well. This symptom is often explained as a pins and needles sensation or itch.
You might experience both numbness and pain if you’ve sustained damage to the peripheral nervous system.
3. Loss of Sensation
Nerve damage might cause a loss of sensation as well. This often occurs when the sensory nerves are affected.
In other cases, your muscles might become weak, making daily tasks difficult to complete.
In worst-case scenarios, peripheral neuropathy can cause paralysis to the affected extremities.
4. Lack of Reflex
Your brains and nerves communicate with your hand when you touch a hot or cold object. This process tells your body to move before you get hurt. If your nerves sustain damage, you might lose these automatic reflexes.
Make sure to seek treatment from a specialist right away if these symptoms sound familiar. You can read more about it here before visiting a specialist.
5. Spasms
If the peripheral nerves can’t operate properly, they may begin firing off erratically. Your muscles might twitch, cramp, or spasm as a result.
If you develop the inability to control your muscles, your risk of falling and serious injuries could increase.
Nerve Damage Symptoms: 5 Signs to Seek Treatment Right Away
Nerve damage symptoms can impact your well-being and quality of life. You could struggle to complete daily activities if these symptoms persist. If these peripheral neuropathy symptoms sound familiar, visit a specialist right away.
They can help you explore your treatment options before the damage to your peripheral nervous system gets worse.
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