Sensory Motor Neuropathy
Sensorimotor polyneuropathy is a bodywide (systemic) process that damages nerve cells, nerve fibers (axons), and nerve coverings (myelin sheath). Damage to the covering of the nerve cell causes nerve signals to slow or stop. Damage to the nerve fiber or entire nerve cell can make the nerve stop working. Some neuropathies develop over years, while others can start and get severe within hours to days.
Nerve damage can be caused by:
- Autoimmune (when the body attacks itself) disorders
- Conditions that put pressure on nerves
- Decreased blood flow to the nerve
- Diseases that destroy the glue (connective tissue) that holds cells and tissues together
- Swelling (inflammation) of the nerves
Some diseases lead to polyneuropathy that is mainly sensory or mainly motor. Possible causes of sensorimotor polyneuropathy include:
- Alcoholic neuropathy
- Cancer (called a paraneoplastic neuropathy)
- Chronic inflammatory neuropathy
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Drug-related neuropathy, including chemotherapy
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Hereditary neuropathy
- Vitamin deficiency (vitamins B12, B1, and E)
Symptoms
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Decreased feeling in any area of the body
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Difficulty using the arms or hands
- Difficulty using the legs or feet
- Difficulty walking
- Pain, burning, tingling, or abnormal feeling in any area of the body (called neuralgia)
- Weakness of the face, arms, or legs, or any area of the body
Symptoms may develop quickly (as in Guillain-Barré syndrome) or slowly over weeks to years. Symptoms usually occur on both sides of the body. Most often, they start at the ends of the toes first.
