Common causes of peripheral nerve dysfunction

Peripheral nerve dysfunction is also quite common in our daily life, and there are many causes. It is often manifested as symmetrical sensations in the distal ends of the limbs, motor or autonomic dysfunction. The more common ones are multiple neuritis or multiple median and peripheral neuritis. There are many causes of this disorder, such as poisoning, nutritional metabolic disorders, allergies and hypersensitivity reactions, etc.

Common causes of peripheral nerve dysfunction: 1. Poisoning: such as heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, phosphorus, drugs such as furacillin, isoniazid, streptomycin, phenytoin sodium, carbamazepine, vincristine, and organic compounds such as organophosphorus pesticides. 2. Nutritional metabolic disorders: such as vitamin B deficiency, diabetes, uremia, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, pregnancy, etc.

The main symptoms are numbness of the hands, feet or limbs, which may be accompanied by pain and weakness. In mild cases, the fingertips and toes become numb, while in severe cases, the condition may extend to the entire palm, feet, limbs, or even the entire body. Feeling of numbness, distension, difficulty in flexion and extension, inflexible movement, "like ants crawling" or "pins and needles feeling", some patients have "socks" or "sleeve" type abnormal sensations, feel as if the skin has become thicker, and the senses are dulled. Many patients often experience attacks during sleep at night, and may wake up from numbness, or feel swelling, numbness, discomfort and stiffness in their hands after getting up in the morning, which can be relieved after a little activity.

The above symptoms often worsen after catching cold or being tired. Accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, and fear of cold hands and feet. Some patients also have some complex abnormal sensations, such as an abnormal feeling on the soles of the feet as if stepping on cotton or pebbles, or a tingling, burning, or electric shock sensation when touching objects. If the disease is severe, muscle atrophy may occur. However, most patients have normal limb motor function in the early stages of the disease, which generally does not affect their work and life, and laboratory tests show no obvious damage to the nervous system (some patients have abnormal electromyography). The disease presents a chronic progressive process, which can last for several years to more than ten years.