Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy
Here are the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy. We have compiled resources on these particular causes, but if you don’t see yours below, feel free to fill out the form at the bottom of this page and we will add information about it as soon as we can.
– The Peripheral Neuropathy Support Network
Diabetes
- Diabetic neuropathy is the most common form of neuropathy
- High blood sugar can often cause damage to peripheral nerves, but symptoms can often be managed by managing blood sugar levels
Autoimmune
- Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy tissue in your body
- Some of these diseases, attack nerve tissue directly and others cause inflammatory responses which damage peripheral nerves
Vitamin Deficiency
- Long-term vitamin deficiency, particularly with B vitamins, can cause peripheral nerve damage
- This type of damage can often be resolved by bringing the vitamin levels back to normal
Lyme Disease
- Left untreated, people with Lyme Disease can develop peripheral nerve damage
- With treatment, symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can sometimes abate, though there are chances of lingering nerve damage
Chemotherapy
- Peripheral nerve damage can often be a side effect of certain types of chemotherapy
- Symptoms tend to be at their worst 3-5 months after treatment, but can start to reduce as more time passes
Hereditary
- Tendencies toward peripheral nerve damage can be passed down from parental DNA
- Testing is difficult and may not give definitive answers, but inherited peripheral neuropathy can often stay dormant for years without manifesting symptoms
Alcoholic
- Excessive alcohol use can lead to nerve damage that can worsen if alcohol use continues
- If caught and stopped early, it is possible to minimize the permanent damage alcoholic neuropathy can cause
Injury
- Often, traumatic injuries can cause peripheral nerve damage that can be very painful
- Treating the injury and using methods such as physical therapy and occupational therapy tend to help with such damage
Idiopathic
- Many peripheral neuropathy cases remain idiopathic, which means that the cause remains unknown
- After concluding that peripheral neuropathy is idiopathic, providers will often focus on mitigating the symptoms