What is it?
Peripheral neuropathy means damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It can affect sensation, muscle strength and sometimes automatic functions such as blood pressure and digestion.
General Neurology
Neuropathy Treatment
Numbness, tingling, burning pain or weakness, often in the feet and hands, can come from damage to the peripheral nerves. Finding the cause guides treatment.
What symptoms can occur?
- Numbness or tingling, often starting in the toes and feet
- Burning, shooting or electric-shock-like pain
- Weakness, cramps or difficulty with grip
- Poor balance, especially in the dark
What are common causes?
- Diabetes, the most common cause
- Vitamin B12 deficiency and thyroid problems
- Alcohol, some medicines and toxins
- Kidney disease, infections and inflammatory or immune conditions
- Inherited neuropathies and nerve compression, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
When should someone seek urgent care?
- Weakness that spreads quickly over hours or days, especially in both legs
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing with weakness
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, which may be a stroke
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
Call 108 or go to the nearest emergency department for these symptoms.
How is it evaluated?
A neurological examination of sensation, strength and reflexes, blood tests for common causes, and nerve conduction studies and EMG when indicated. Further tests depend on the findings.
What treatment options are available?
- Treating the cause, such as blood sugar control or vitamin replacement
- Medicines for nerve pain
- Foot care, physiotherapy and balance exercises
- Specific treatment for immune-mediated neuropathies
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
When does numbness need urgent evaluation?
When it starts suddenly, affects one side of the body, spreads quickly, or comes with weakness, breathing difficulty or loss of bladder control.
Can neuropathy be reversed?
It depends on the cause and how long it has been present. Treating the cause can stop it getting worse and sometimes improve it.
Open Mon–Sat, 9AM–5PM
Book a consultation
Request an appointment for nerve symptoms at KIMS Hospitals (New Facility), Kondapur, or call the clinic. Bring previous prescriptions, scan reports and a list of your current medicines.
Request appointment
Choose a day from Monday to Saturday. The clinic calls back to confirm your time.
Request appointmentClinic hoursMon–Sat, 9AM–5PM9AM5PM