Peripheral Neuropathy
Definition:
Peripheral neuropathy is the result of one of the components of the peripheral nervous system being damaged (White). Damage to myelin may take weeks to heal, while damage to the axon may take months (White). There are multiple causes of peripheral neuropathy and they can include diabetes, accidents, medications, nerve compression, nutritional deficiency, and other disease states like rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS, cancer, hypothyroidism, alcoholism, or systemic lupus erythematosus (Goodman). Subjective:
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Objective:
Intervention/Prognosis:
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References:
- White CM, Pritchard J, Turner-Stokes L. Exercise for people with peripheral neuropathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004(4):CD003904.
- Goodman CC, Snyder TEK. Differential diagnosis for physical therapists: screening for referral. 4th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.
- Kluding PM, Pasnoor M, Singh R, et al. The effect of exercise on neuropathic symptoms, nerve function, and cutaneous innervation in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. J Diabetes Complications. 2012;18:18.
- Image from: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/582128