Types of Peripheral Neuropathy and the Symptoms of Each
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Medically reviewed by Brigid Dwyer, MD
Peripheral nerves send messages to your body through your peripheral nervous system (PNS)—a component of your nervous system which lies just outside the brain and spinal cord. However, some illnesses, injuries, or other medical conditions can affect your PNS and cause damage to these nerves. As a result, your brain isn't able to send messages to your body correctly, which can cause peripheral neuropathy.
This condition can cause a variety of symptoms, such as pain, tingling, or weakness in your extremities (hands and feet). In some cases, you can also develop symptoms that affect your heart and digestion. Your exact symptoms will depend on which of your nerves are affected. However, most people experience pain in their hands and feet first before symptoms spread to other parts of the body.
Research suggests that more than 20 million people in the United States have peripheral neuropathy. Knowing the symptoms of the condition can help you know when to seek care from your healthcare provider and get the treatment you need.
Common Symptoms
There are three types of nerves that peripheral neuropathy can affect: motor, sensory, and autonomic. The exact symptoms you experience depend largely on the type of neuropathy you have. But, most people become aware of damage to their peripheral nerves when they notice the following symptoms in their hands and feet:
Tingling
Burning sensation
Weakness
Numbness
Extreme sensitivity
Motor Neuropathy Symptoms
Your motor nerves control your muscle movements, such as the ones you use for walking and talking. If you have motor neuropathy, you might experience these symptoms:
Shrinking of the muscles
Involuntary muscle twitching
Sensory Neuropathy Symptoms
Your sensory nerves give you information about what you’re physically feeling. These nerves control touch, temperature, pain, pressure, and vibration. If you develop sensory neuropathy, it can be common to experience:
Tingling or numbness in the extremities (hands and feet), that feel like “pins and needles”
Stabbing or burning pain in the extremities
Trouble feeling hot or cold sensations
Autonomic Neuropathy Symptoms
Autonomic nerves control organ functions, like urinating, sweating, digestion, and heart rate. Those who develop autonomic neuropathy may have the following symptoms:
Sweating too much or not enough
Dizziness or fainting
Increased risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI)
Orthostatic hypotension—or, low blood pressure that can happen suddenly when you move from a seated to a standing position
Symptoms in Children
Peripheral neuropathy isn’t as common in children. But, if a child does develop the condition, it can often be difficult to identify and diagnose. In kids over the age of six, many of the symptoms—like burning, itching, and tingling—are the same as in adults. In nonverbal kids or kids under the age of six, symptoms aren’t always as obvious. These children may display symptoms in the following ways:
Lack of awareness of pain or injury
General complaints of discomfort, but not being able to identify where
Avoiding touching things
In general, peripheral neuropathy pain in children can be intense. One study researching the condition in 10 to 17-year-olds found that children are more likely to describe their pain as sharp, stabbing, shooting, or burning. Many adolescents also report having feelings of anxiety, depression, and a lower quality of life because of their pain.
Symptoms in Men and Women
Generally, assigned males and females both can develop peripheral neuropathy. For the most part, symptoms tend to look similar among the two sexes. However, there are some key differences:
Assigned males may have slightly higher rates of developing peripheral neuropathy
Assigned females may feel more intense pain
People with a penis can experience erectile dysfunction and loss of sensation in their genitals
People with a vagina might have a loss of arousal, vaginal dryness, and trouble achieving orgasm
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you have any of the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, it’s important to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Since peripheral neuropathy is often a condition that occurs alongside diabetes, these symptoms can point to underlying issues with your blood sugar. That said, your healthcare provider can order tests that help them learn more about your blood sugar and neuropathy symptoms—and find the appropriate treatment for both.
It's important to note that in certain situations, some people may be able to reverse the damage to their nerves and experience symptom recovery. However, this is usually only possible if the nerve cells aren't completely damaged or have died. This often may be the case among those who receive an early diagnosis for their condition. If your condition is left untreated, it is generally harder to reverse nerve damage.
While most physicians can diagnose and treat peripheral neuropathy, it can sometimes be helpful to see a specialist. For example, if your symptoms are primarily affecting your feet, you may consider consulting with a podiatrist (or, a doctor who specializes in the feet) or neurologist (or, a doctor who specializes in the nervous system).
A Quick Review
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the nerves that help the brain and the body communicate become damaged. This is a common side effect of certain injuries and illnesses, like autoimmune diseases, cancer and chemotherapy, and diabetes. Your exact symptoms will depend on which type of neuropathy you have. Generally, people first experience pain, tingling, or numbness in their extremities (hands and feet) before symptoms progress to other parts of the body.
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