Neuropathy, sometimes called peripheral neuropathy, is a condition in which nerve damage interferes with the communication between your brain and your peripheral nerves.
Your peripheral nerves are the nerves that branch out from your spinal cord and spread throughout your body.
Your peripheral nerves control your movement, sensation, and autonomic functions such as digestion and respiration. As a result, neuropathy can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including:
- Numbness or weakness in your hands and feet
- Sharp or burning pain
- Lost coordination and balance
- Muscle weakness
- Feeling like you’re wearing gloves when you aren’t
- Heat intolerance
- Excessive sweating
In rare cases, neuropathy interferes with your bowel and bladder control or your blood pressure.
Additionally, if your sciatic nerve is damaged, neuropathy can cause sciatica symptoms. These include pain and tingling sensations that shoot from your buttocks down the backs of your thighs, muscle weakness, and lost coordination.
