Words To Help You Understand Neuropathy Better

Today's short post from pain.com (see link below) is a useful one for both newcomers to neuropathy and those who have been living with it for some time. There are very few diseases with as much associated vocabulary as neuropathy! You can guarantee that whatever words your doctor uses at your diagnosis, there are 10 or more alternatives. more or less describing the same thing, that you will hear of or read about during the following months and years. It's a disease that prefers to use 10 scientific terms when actually one or two will do. This makes it a minefield for patients, who think they've finally got a handle on their condition, only to find that they've still got a whole new lexicon of descriptive words to learn. That comes from the fact that there are over 100 sorts and over 100 causes of neuropathy and each comes with its own descriptive vocabulary. This article at least tries to narrow it down to a few key words but even then, I find myself thinking, 'Why haven't they included this one or that one?' I also had to admit...'dermatomes' is a new one for me too. It's like being back at school again but at least articles like this try to help navigate the obstacle course.

Neuropathy: 10 Terms to Know
Pain.com May 2016
 
Neuropathy, simply put, is pain from nerve damage. Here are ten terms you should know about the condition.

Peripheral nervous system: the system of nerves outside the central nervous system (which is made up of the brain and spinal cord). The peripheral nervous system sends signals from the central nervous system to the rest of your body.

Peripheral neuropathy: damage to these nerves, which leads to pain, numbness, weakness, and burning or tingling sensations in the limbs, hands, and feet. It can be caused by genetics, toxin exposure, traumatic injury, infection, or metabolic conditions.

Diabetic neuropathy: nerve damage that occurs specifically as a result of complications from undiagnosed or untreated diabetes.

Sensory nerves: nerves that perceive sensations on the skin, such as heat, cold, pain, vibrations, or physical contact.

Motor nerves: control the movement of muscles

Autonomic nerves: control automatic bodily functions like digestion, bladder function, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

Dermatomes: connect peripheral nerves to the spinal cord; because the dermatomes coordinate with certain areas of the body, the symptoms can be used to trace which nerves are damaged.

Mononeuropathy: damage to a single nerve.

Multiple mononeuropathy: damage to two or more nerves that affect different areas of the body.

Polyneuropathy: damage that affects many nerves.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as muscle weakness, tingling or numbness, burning or shooting pains in the limbs, loss of control over muscles or bowel and bladder function, consult your doctor for tests.

References:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/basics/definition/con-20019948
http://www.medicinenet.com/peripheral_neuropathy/article.htm
http://www.webmd.com/brain/understanding-peripheral-neuropathy-basics
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/neuropathy/

http://pain.com/archives/2016/05/04-neuropathy-10-terms/