Neuropathy
What is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a condition where nerves throughout your body become damaged. Your nerves carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body. When they stop working properly, you may feel tingling, numbness, or pain. These symptoms often start in your hands and feet.
There are many types of neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves in your arms, legs, hands, and feet. This is the most common type. Autonomic neuropathy affects nerves that control your heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure. Some people have one damaged nerve, while others have many.
Neuropathy can develop slowly over months or years. It can also appear suddenly in some cases. Early detection through blood testing helps identify root causes like vitamin deficiencies. Catching these issues early gives you more treatment options and better outcomes.
Symptoms
- Tingling or pins and needles sensation in hands or feet
- Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes
- Sharp, stabbing, or burning pain
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Muscle weakness or difficulty walking
- Loss of coordination and balance
- Pain that worsens at night
- Feeling like you are wearing gloves or socks when you are not
Some people with early neuropathy have no symptoms at all. Others notice mild symptoms that gradually worsen over time. If you have diabetes or vitamin deficiencies, regular testing helps catch nerve problems before symptoms appear.
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Causes and risk factors
Neuropathy happens when nerves become damaged or stop working properly. Diabetes is the leading cause, affecting nerves through high blood sugar levels over time. Vitamin B12 deficiency is another common cause, as this vitamin is essential for healthy nerve function. Low B12 levels damage the protective coating around nerves, leading to tingling and numbness. Other nutritional deficiencies, heavy alcohol use, and certain infections can also damage nerves.
Some medications, including chemotherapy drugs, can cause nerve damage as a side effect. Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may trigger your immune system to attack your nerves. Physical injuries, repetitive motions, and pressure on nerves can lead to neuropathy too. In rare cases, vaccines that stimulate antibody production may be associated with nerve problems. About 30% of neuropathy cases have no clear cause.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose neuropathy through physical exams, medical history, and blood tests. Your doctor will check your reflexes, muscle strength, and sensitivity to touch and temperature. They will ask about your symptoms and any conditions that increase your risk. Blood tests help identify underlying causes like vitamin B12 deficiency, which is a common and treatable trigger of nerve damage.
Rite Aid offers vitamin B12 testing as an add-on to help identify deficiency-related neuropathy. Testing your B12 levels gives you clear data about one of the most common reversible causes. Your doctor may also order nerve conduction studies or electromyography to measure how well your nerves send signals. Early testing leads to faster treatment and better outcomes.
Treatment options
- Treat the underlying cause, such as managing blood sugar in diabetes or correcting vitamin B12 deficiency
- Take B12 supplements or receive B12 injections if levels are low
- Eat foods rich in B vitamins, including fish, eggs, dairy, and fortified cereals
- Limit or avoid alcohol, which can worsen nerve damage
- Exercise regularly to improve blood flow and nerve health
- Maintain healthy blood sugar levels through diet and medication if needed
- Take pain medications like gabapentin or pregabalin as prescribed
- Use topical creams containing capsaicin or lidocaine for localized pain
- Try physical therapy to maintain strength and coordination
- Work with your doctor to adjust medications that may be causing nerve damage
Need testing for Neuropathy? Add it to your panel.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Neuropathy often feels like tingling, pins and needles, or numbness in your hands and feet. Some people experience sharp, burning, or stabbing pain. Others describe extreme sensitivity where even light touch feels uncomfortable. The sensations may start mild and gradually worsen over time.
Yes, low vitamin B12 is a common cause of neuropathy. B12 helps maintain the protective coating around your nerves. Without enough B12, this coating breaks down and nerves become damaged. This leads to tingling, numbness, and balance problems, especially in hands and feet.
Some types of neuropathy are reversible, especially if caught early. Neuropathy caused by vitamin B12 deficiency often improves with supplementation. Nerve damage from other causes may be permanent, but treatment can prevent further damage and manage symptoms. Early testing and treatment give you the best chance of recovery.
Doctors diagnose neuropathy through physical exams, symptom evaluation, and blood tests. They check your reflexes, muscle strength, and ability to feel touch and temperature. Blood tests like vitamin B12 help identify underlying causes. Nerve conduction studies may be ordered to measure how well your nerves transmit signals.
Vitamin B12 testing is one of the most important blood tests for neuropathy. Low B12 levels indicate a treatable cause of nerve damage. Other blood tests may check for diabetes, thyroid problems, and kidney disease. Testing antibody levels after certain vaccines can help identify rare immune-related causes.
Neuropathy usually develops slowly over months or years. Vitamin deficiency-related neuropathy may take several months to appear. Diabetic neuropathy typically develops after years of poorly controlled blood sugar. Some types can appear suddenly, such as those caused by injury or acute vitamin deficiency.
Many cases of neuropathy can be prevented with healthy lifestyle choices. Maintain normal blood sugar levels if you have diabetes. Eat foods rich in B vitamins or take supplements if needed. Limit alcohol use and avoid smoking. Regular blood testing helps catch deficiencies early before nerve damage occurs.
Foods rich in vitamin B12 support nerve health, including fish, eggs, meat, and dairy products. Fortified cereals and nutritional yeast provide B12 for people on plant-based diets. Foods with other B vitamins like leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains also support nerve function. A balanced diet with adequate protein helps maintain overall nerve health.
See a doctor if you experience persistent tingling, numbness, or pain in your hands or feet. Seek immediate care if you have sudden weakness, severe pain, or loss of bladder control. Early evaluation helps identify treatable causes like vitamin deficiencies. Blood testing can reveal the underlying cause and guide your treatment plan.
No, neuropathy can affect nerves throughout your body. Peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet is most common. Autonomic neuropathy affects nerves controlling digestion, heart rate, and blood pressure. Some people develop neuropathy in their face or torso. The location depends on which nerves are damaged and the underlying cause.