Sensory neuropathy: symptoms, causes and treatment

A wide variety of factors, from genetics to inflammatory diseases such as lupus, can cause nerve damage. These disorders are known as peripheral neuropathies and cause symptoms related to sensory pathways, movement or thinking. autonomic nervous system.

One of the most common types of peripheral neuropathy is sensory., which is characterized by the appearance of symptoms and signs related to the perception of sensations and occurs as a consequence of nerve injuries.

In this article we will analyze the most common symptoms, causes and treatments of this disorder.

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What is peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a category of diseases that affect the functioning of the nerves. The specific consequences of these alterations vary depending on which nerves are damaged; usually cause sensory and motor deficits, as well as dysfunctions in the organs and glands of the endocrine system.

Because the autonomic nervous system also contains nerve fibers, peripheral neuropathy is sometimes associated with disorders in functions such as breathing, blood circulation and temperature regulation bodily.

Some of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy include systemic diseases such as diabetes or lupus erythematosus, the consumption of certain antibiotic drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, trauma, vitamin deficiency and viral infections. Sometimes it is transmitted by hereditary genetic mechanisms.

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Types of peripheral neuropathy

We speak of "mononeuropathy" when the affectation is limited to a single nerve, while the term is used “polyneuropathy” to refer to cases in which multiple nerves of the same nerve are damaged area. In contrast, multifocal mononeuropathy is diagnosed when there is more than one nerve injured independently.

The label "sensory neuropathy" is reserved for nerve disorders that predominantly affect the sensory system, being associated mainly with touch and proprioception. In any case, it is very common for different types of neuropathy to appear together in the same person.

Symptoms

The characteristic symptoms of sensory neuropathy consist of the development of functional deficits in the senses, as well as in the appearance of sensations that should not be perceived or that have a greater intensity than what expected. The symptoms of sensory neuropathy tend to present symmetrically in the two hemispheres of the body.

Among the deficiency symptoms we find lack of sensitivity to tactile stimulisuch as sensations of texture, vibration or pressure, as well as pain. In addition, there are often problems in the perception of temperature changes and a reduction in the ability to detect intense heat or cold.

Very characteristic of sensory neuropathy is the loss of perception of body position, which is associated with deficits in balance, posture and coordination of movements, especially when standing and walking. It is common for the symptoms to be more marked in the feet, which further alters this type of function.

On the other hand, significant pain sensations may appear as a result of stimuli that are objectively not very painful (hyperalgesia) or that should not cause any harm at all (allodynia). Sometimes itching, tingling, burning or stabbing pains without identifiable cause are also perceived, and tremors may appear in the muscles.

In a large number of cases, sensory neuropathy occurs simultaneously with motor nerve dysfunction. When this happens, the most common thing is that the sensory symptoms appear first in the lower extremities and later develop signs of a motor type, such as muscle weakness and gait disturbances.

Causes of this disorder

The scientific community has identified a large number of possible causes of sensory neuropathy. Some of the most common are the following:

• Inflammatory diseases such as lupus systemic erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome or leprosy.
• Endocrine and metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, amyloidosis or chronic kidney disease.
• Bone marrow diseases such as lymphomas.
• Traumatic injuries to the nerves of the senses.
• cerebrovascular accidents, particularly ischemia.
• Genetic inheritance of diseases such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth and ataxia of Friedreich.
• Contact with toxic substances such as poisons and heavy metals.
• Deficiency of vitamins A, B1, B12 and E or excess of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine).
• Chronic inflammatory responses in nerve fibers.
• Alterations in the blood circulation to the affected nerves.
• Consumption of medicines such as fluoroquinolones.
• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Treatment and drugs

The treatment of the symptoms of sensory neuropathy focuses mainly on identifying the underlying cause in order to correct the core of the alterations. When this is not possible, therapy is directed at the relief of specific symptoms.

In this sense pain relievers are often used (including therapeutic cannabis), as well as antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Among the antidepressant drugs, duloxetine and tricyclics such as nortriptyline and amitriptyline, while gabapentin, pregabalin, and sodium valproate are the antiepileptics most used.

On the other hand, recent research suggests that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy may be very effective in reducing pain symptoms, although results are only maintained as long as treatment continues taking place

In cases where neuropathy occurs as a consequence of complications in a case of diabetes mellitus, managing blood glucose levels may be enough to correct the problems.