What are the risk factors for peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is damage or dysfunction in nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. These nerves carry messages for feeling and movement, so changes may include tingling, burning pain, numbness, unusual sensitivity or weakness, often in the feet or hands.

Long-term high blood sugar can injure small blood vessels that supply nerves, which is why Type 2 Diabetes is a major risk factor. Heavy alcohol use can harm nerves directly and may also make a balanced diet harder to maintain. Low vitamin B12 can interfere with healthy nerve function. This can occur with restricted diets, absorption problems or some medicines.

Other contributors include kidney or thyroid disease, autoimmune illness, infections, inherited nerve disorders, chemotherapy and pressure or trauma affecting a nerve. Having a risk factor does not establish the cause of symptoms; a clinician may need to review your history, medicines and examination findings.

Arrange a routine medical review if numbness, tingling, burning or weakness persists, spreads or affects walking, balance or hand use. Bring a list of medicines and supplements, describe alcohol intake honestly, and mention diabetes, digestive problems, dietary restrictions or recent injuries.

Managing blood sugar when you have diabetes, avoiding heavy alcohol use, eating a varied diet and treating an identified vitamin deficiency may help reduce further nerve injury. Do not stop a prescribed medicine or start high-dose supplements without medical advice. Check numb areas and protect them from heat, pressure and cuts because reduced feeling can hide an injury.

Seek urgent medical help for sudden weakness, rapidly worsening numbness, new trouble walking, loss of bladder or bowel control, severe back pain with leg symptoms, or symptoms affecting breathing or swallowing.

Contact a clinician promptly for a foot or hand wound you cannot feel properly, signs of infection, repeated falls or weakness that is interfering with daily activities. These situations need assessment for nerve damage and other possible causes.

Ask which risk factors fit your history, whether blood tests could check glucose, vitamin B12, thyroid or kidney function, and whether any medicine may be contributing. You can also ask how to protect numb skin, whether nerve testing is needed and which changes should prompt urgent help.