Peripheral Neuropathy, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a medical disorder caused by damage to or disease affecting peripheral nerves, which may reduce sensation, movement, gland or organ function, or other parts of health, depending on the type of nerve affected.
Peripheral nerves bring information to and from the brain.
They also transfer signals to and from the spinal cord to the rest of the body.
Peripheral neuropathy usually suggests that these nerves do not work properly.
Peripheral neuropathy may cause damage to a single nerve or nerve group.
Peripheral neuropathy may be classified as genetic and acquired.
Often, no cause can be found (idiopathic).
A. Genetic: Some nerve diseases are inherited in families.
Acquired Conditions that may cause neuropathy are:
1. Traumatic injury to the nerve
a. Broken bone that affects a nerve
b. Glue, lead, mercury, and solvent poisoning
c. Drugs that treat infections, cancer, seizures, and high blood pressure
d. Pressure on a nerve, such as from carpal tunnel syndrome
e. Being exposed to cold temperatures for a long period of time
f. Pressure from bad-fitting casts, splints, a brace, or crutches

Symptoms are present:
1. Pain and Numbness
2. Muscle Problems
3. Body Organs Disorders

Investigations:
Electromyography and Nerve conduction studies

Treatment:
People with diabetes should try to regulate their blood sugar and avoid alcohol drinks
The patient may have therapy to learn exercises to increase muscle strength and control.
Braces, splints, and wheelchairs may improve movement or the ability to use an arm or leg that has nerve damage.
Medicines such as painkillers can reduce pain in the feet, legs, and arms but not numbness
Medicines can help with urine, abdominal and erection problems
The patient may need surgery to remove pressure from a nerve.
When a medical condition can be found and treated, the outlook may be excellent.
But sometimes, nerve damage can be permanent, even if after the cause is treated.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Peripheral Neuropathy
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Guillian Barre Syndrome
Chapter 8 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Epilogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Oct 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370541478

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Peripheral Neuropathy,

A

Simple

Guide

To

The Condition,

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2015 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes the Peripheral Neuropathy, Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions or in vernacular terms

(What You need to treat Peripheral Neuropathy)

This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Condition) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiolographical account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Conditions into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 600 amazon kindle books and some into Smashwords.com eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical conditions.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring you the latest information about a condition or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Peripheral Neuropathy

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a medical disorder caused by damage to or disease affecting nerves, which may reduce sensation, movement, gland or organ function, or other parts of health, depending on the type of nerve affected.

Peripheral nerves bring information to and from the brain.

They also transfer signals to and from the spinal cord to the rest of the body.

Peripheral neuropathy usually suggests that these nerves do not work properly.

Peripheral neuropathy may cause damage to a single nerve.

It may cause damage to a nerve group.

It may also involve nerves in the whole body.

What are the causes of Peripheral Neuropathy?

Causes

Peripheral neuropathy may be classified as genetic and acquired.

The most common acquired cause is Traumatic injury to the nerve.

Often, no cause can be found (idiopathic).

A. Genetic: Some nerve diseases are inherited in families.

Diabetes is the most common cause of this type of nerve problem.

High blood sugar levels over a long time can damage the nerves.

Acquired Conditions that may cause neuropathy are:

1. Traumatic injury to the nerve

a. Broken bone that affects a nerve

b. Glue, lead, mercury, and solvent poisoning

c. Drugs that treat infections, cancer, seizures, and high blood pressure

d. Pressure on a nerve, such as from carpal tunnel syndrome

e. Being exposed to cold temperatures for a long period of time

f. Pressure from bad-fitting casts, splints, a brace, or crutches

g. Long-term, heavy alcohol use

Other acquired causes are:

1. Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus

2. Chronic kidney disease

3. HIV

4. Liver infections

5. Low levels of vitamin B12 or other vitamins

6. Metabolic disease

7. Poisoning due to heavy metals, such as lead

8. Poor blood flow to the legs

9. Under active thyroid gland

What are the symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy?

Symptoms

Symptoms are present depending on which nerve is damaged, and whether the injury involves one nerve, several nerves,