5 tipos de neuropatía

¿Te has preguntado alguna vez qué ocurre cuando le dices a tu cuerpo que se mueva de un sitio a otro? ¿Cómo funciona? 

Dentro de su cuerpo hay una red de nervios que conectan con el cerebro y la médula espinal. Esos nervios están compuestos por haces de fibras que generan cambios químicos y eléctricos en las células para comunicarse entre el cuerpo y el cerebro. 

Blinking, smiling, walking and waving, even twitching your facial muscles are all directly impacted by the nerves in your body. When the peripheral nervous system is damaged it may cause an array of symptoms that the body displays, called neuropathy.

There are different types of neuropathy; some are genetic, some are caused by car accidents, and some come about because of chemotherapy or hormonal imbalances. 

5 tipos de neuropatía

Neuropatía is a condition that continues to worsen over time, which is why it’s important to learn about the different types of neuropathy and seek medical attention if you experience any of the symptoms. Below you will find five different types of neuropathy, their symptoms, and the next steps to take if you experience them. 

1. Neuropatía autonómica

Patients who have been diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy are those who have nerve damage impacting their involuntary nervous system. This can impact heart rate, blood pressure, eyes, digestive system, bladder, ability to sense hypoglycemia, sex organs, or sweat glands. 

Depending on where autonomic neuropathy takes place within the individual symptoms may include paralysis of the bladder causing issues such as urinary tract infections and lack of normal bladder pressure response. If the digestive system is affected this can result in indigestion, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, feeling full when only a small amount of food has been eaten, or nausea & vomiting. 

Una plétora de problemas secundarios surgirá debido a la causa raíz, pero no siempre son fácilmente detectables. En Integrated Pain Management vamos más allá del alcance normal de los exámenes médicos y hacemos que nuestros pacientes se sometan a pruebas especiales para identificar el tipo de neuropatía que pueden estar sufriendo. 

 2. Neuropatía craneal

Patients who have been diagnosed with cranial neuropathy are those whose brain or brainstem is affected. Cranial nerves come from the brain or brainstem and affect areas around the face and the eyes. When the cranial nerves are damaged, from an illness or an injury, it can prevent individuals from moving and feeling. If the patient damages more than one cranial nerve, this is referred to as multiple cranial neuropathies (MCN). 

Existen diferentes tipos de neuropatías craneales, algunas de ellas son:

El tercer nervio craneal: La mononeuropatía implica visión doble, caída de un párpado, dolor en la cabeza o detrás del ojo. 

El cuarto nervio craneal: Parálisis del oblicuo superior. Afecta a la convergencia ocular. 

El sexto nervio craneal: Parálisis abducens. Afecta al control de los movimientos oculares. 

El séptimo par craneal: Parálisis de Bell. Parálisis facial o debilidad en un lado de la cara. 

Los pacientes con neuropatía craneal pueden experimentar diferentes síntomas, algunos de los cuales incluyen:

> Dolor

> Sensación de hormigueo

> Entumecimiento

> Piel sensible

> Debilidad

Si usted está experimentando cualquiera de estos síntomas y sospecha que puede tener una forma de neuropatía, póngase en contacto con Integrated Pain Management y permita que nuestro equipo le guíe en su camino hacia la recuperación. 

3. Neuropatía focal

Patients who have been diagnosed with focal neuropathy are those who have damaged their single nerves, commonly found in the head, torso, or leg. When a single nerve is damaged, this is considered focal neuropathy or mononeuropathy, which causes a specific part of the body to stop working properly.

This condition typically occurs in individuals with diabetes since it is caused by high blood sugar and high levels of fats. When these levels are too high in the blood, it can damage nerves and the blood vessels that nourish the nerves. 

Patients with focal neuropathy will experience symptoms that typically get worse over time. For this reason, it is important that once diagnosed, patients begin the treatment process. In addition to pain throughout the body, patients with focal neuropathy may experience difficulty seeing properly, as well as pain around the eye area.

Luckily, there are a handful of options available to treat focal neuropathy including a splint or brace, anti-inflammatory medicine, and surgery, if the conservative options fail. 

Si usted está interesado en aprender más acerca de las opciones de tratamiento disponibles para la neuropatía focal, póngase en contacto con Integrated Pain Management y permita que nuestro increíble equipo revise sus opciones con usted. 

4. Neuropatía proximal

Patients with proximal neuropathy have nerve damage in the hip, buttocks, or high. This form of neuropathy is unique because it tends to only affect one side of the body, leaving the other unphased. This condition develops when an individual has high blood sugar and high levels of fat in their blood, leading to nerve damage. 

Typically affecting patients who are in their middle age or the elderly, this form of neuropathy will appear in more female patients than males. Nerve damage strikes in the buttocks, hips, or thighs typically affecting one side of the body with sharp sudden pain, muscle wasting, or weakness.

Many patients describe the sensation as a relentless burning or stabbing in the area with an intensity that makes it difficult to fall asleep. 

En algunos pacientes, el tratamiento puede incluir terapia ocupacional para ayudar al cuerpo y facilitar las tareas cotidianas. Control regular de la diabetes: análisis de sangre periódicos, ejercicio diario, dieta equilibrada y control de los niveles de colesterol y glucosa. 

5. Neuropatía del nervio radial

Patients with radial nerve neuropathy are those who have nerve damage to the radial nerve. This nerve is responsible for helping your arm function and connects to your wrist, elbow, and fingers. It provides sensory and motor functions to the arm by stimulating muscles and sending messages. 

Cuando el nervio radial está dañado, el paciente puede tener dificultades para realizar tareas sencillas como enderezar el brazo y coger o levantar objetos. 

El daño del nervio radial puede aparecer debido a accidentes de coche o traumatismos, esta forma de neuropatía recorre el brazo, desde la punta de los dedos hasta la axila, y crea síntomas como entumecimiento, hormigueo, picor o quemazón a lo largo de cualquier zona afectada del brazo. 

Treatment options depend on what type of neuropathy pain or secondary symptoms are present, along with the specific type of neuropathy the patient is dealing with.

At-home care, outpatient treatment, and a thorough management plan that focuses on preventing further issues and mitigating current symptoms is the best way to treat neuropathy. Treatment can range from lifestyle changes to prescribed medication or physical therapy and pain prevention.