3-1

MediFocus MedCenter ©

Peripheral Neuropathy
(NR021)

Introduction


Peripheral nerves are those outside the brain or spinal cord and include most of the cranial nerves, the spinal nerve roots, the dorsal root ganglia, the peripheral nerve trunks and their terminal branches, and the peripheral autonomic nervous system.

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) results from damage to these peripheral nerves that may be due to several different causes. PN may affect persons of all ages, including children.

The time course of a neuropathy varies, based on its underlying cause. With trauma or circulatory problems, the onset of symptoms will be acute, or sudden, with the most severe symptoms at the onset. Inflammatory and some metabolic neuropathies have a subacute course extending over days to weeks. A chronic course over weeks to months usually indicates a toxic or metabolic neuropathy. A chronic, slowly progressive neuropathy over many years occurs with most hereditary neuropathies or with a condition called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Neuropathies with symptoms that relapse and remit include the Guillain-Barre syndrome.

There is no one treatment to adequately, predictably and specifically control established neuropathic pain. However, there are a variety of medications available to help control the pain.

The overall aim of treatment is maximization of comfort and function and to help the individual cope by means of various therapies and support.

MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information


The Medifocus Guide on Peripheral Neuropathy provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:


What Your Doctor Reads:


This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:


MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information


MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.

MediFocus Guides are the perfect solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in the clinical decision making process.

© Copyright 2000-2001 Medifocus.com, Inc. All rights reserved.


Return to the MedFocus Medical Center Main Directory