Nerve damage, also called neuropathy, may affect the peripheral nerves or autonomic nerves, and may affect a single nerve or multiple nerves at a time. The symptoms of nerve damage depend on the cause, severity and duration of the damage. Early nerve damage has milder symptoms, while advanced nerve damage may cause serious health effects.
Types
Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage to the hands, arms, feet and legs, as well as the skin; autonomic nerve damage affects internal organs such as the bladder, intestines, heart and lungs.
Features
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by high levels of blood sugar that may be complicated by other factors such as smoking, alcohol use, immune system disorders and genetics.
Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include numbness, tingling or burning of the toes, feet and fingers; extreme sensitivity to touch or pressure on the skin; loss of balance and muscle weakness.
Peripheral Neuropathy Stages
Early peripheral neuropathy may cause pain and discomfort; advanced stages may cause serious complications such as infections, especially in the feet.
Autonomic Neuropathy Symptoms
Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy include incontinence of the bladder and bowels, constipation, blood pressure and heart rate problems, nausea, vomiting and sexual dysfunction.
Autonomic Neuropathy Stages
According to the Mayo Clinic, autonomic neuropathy is usually a result of long-term nerve damage that at first may cause intermittent problems and at later stages may cause significant organ damage (see Resources).
Focal Neuropathy
Focal neuropathy is damage to a single nerve, usually in the eye, face or foot, and symptoms include partial facial paralysis, visual problems and severe pain.
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