Neuropathy is a condition that causes weakening, numbness, and discomfort in one or more peripheral nerves. It is the second most common neurological disorder after headaches, affecting millions of Americans. Unfortunately, unlike headaches, it is impossible to repair your nerves if you have Arlington neuropathy. However, you will be delighted to discover that treatment is available, including many medications and, in some cases, factors you can manage. Here are the six most common causes of neuropathy that you need to know.

1.     Diabetes

Diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy, responsible for roughly half of all neuropathy cases. Increased blood sugar levels result in nerve damage and various symptoms, including pain, numbness, and loss of sensation.

Even prediabetes is a reason for worry to specialists because it often leads to diabetes. Diabetes treatment and management can slow the advancement of neuropathy and also assist individuals with other health concerns associated with diabetes, such as kidney issues, stroke, eye complications, and cardiac arrests.

2.     Traumatic Injury

Another common cause of neuropathy is physical trauma to the actual nerves. Trauma includes everything from vehicle collisions and falls to sports accidents, surgical complications or errors, and repetitive motion injuries like extensive typing and assembly line work.

Repetitive motions exert pressure on your wrist’s median nerve, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition is characterized by swelling and inflammation of the ligaments and tendons, which irritate by rubbing the soft tissues surrounding the joint against the bone.

3.     Tumors

Tumors can compress your nerves from the outside, destroy the nerves by developing into them, or originate from the nerve cells. Tumors can sometimes induce paraneoplastic syndromes. This disorder stems not from the direct mechanical implications of the tumor, but from your immune reaction targeting other organs, triggering degeneration, such as nerve damage.

Another indirect cause of tumor-induced neuropathy is after radiation or chemotherapy for malignant growth. Neuromas are non-cancerous but painful tumors that form where a nerve gets damaged by trauma.

4.     Toxins and Substance Abuse

Chemotherapy is known to cause peripheral neuropathy, which is why many patients discontinue its use. Similarly, antiretroviral therapy drugs, and some drugs used to manage blood pressure, like amiodarone, can cause peripheral neuropathy.

Arsenic, lead, and mercury are recognized heavy metal poisons whose effects may include nerve damage. Furthermore, alcohol use can also lead to permanent nerve damage, both directly and because of induced deficiency of vitamins B12 and B1, which are crucial in nerve structure and function.

5.     Genetic Factors

Certain neuropathies are passed down through families or are inherited. One of these is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a condition affecting the peripheral nerves brought on by changes to, or mutations in, a person’s genetic makeup.

Common manifestations include atrophy of the lower limb muscles, the loss of tendon reflexes, and sensory loss across the lower limbs.

Peripheral neuropathy is an umbrella word for any disease, disorder, or condition affecting your peripheral nerves, which are all the nerves that are not connected to your brain or spinal cord. Peripheral neuropathy can occur in various ways, making it a prevalent disorder. This condition is temporary and treatable for some individuals, whereas it is permanent for others. Therefore, if you identify any warning signs of neuropathy, such as pain and tingling sensations, especially if you have other risk factors like diabetes, visit a specialist immediately.