Neuropathy, Peripheral / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

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Neuropathy, Peripheral

Synonyms of Neuropathy, Peripheral

Mononeuritis Multiplex
Mononeuritis, Peripheral
Mononeuropathym Peripheral
Multiple Peripheral Neuritis
Peripheral Neuritis
Polyneuritis, Peripheral
Polyneuropathy, Peripheral

Disorder Subdivisions

Peroneal Nerve Palsy
Radial Nerve Palsy
Saturday Night Palsy
Tardy Ulnar Palsy
Ulnar Nerve Palsy

General Discussion
Peripheral neuropathy is an umbrella term that denotes a disorder of, or damage to, the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system consists of all the motor and sensory nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body (i.e., the nerves outside the central nervous system). The symptoms and physical findings associated with peripheral neuropathies vary greatly from case to case and may be extremely complex.

More than 100 different peripheral neuropathies are recognized, each with a distinguishing set of symptoms, development path, and prognosis. Disorders affecting only one nerve are described as a mononeuropathies while disorders affecting more than one nerve are called polyneuropathies. If two nerves affecting different parts of the body are involved, the disorder is described as a mononeuritis multiplex.

In some cases, symptoms emerge abruptly, progress rapidly, and are slow to subside. Some chronic forms emerge only gradually and progress slowly. Some chronic forms appear to be resolved but are subject to relapses. Most often, symptoms such as pain, tingling, and/or muscle weakness start in both of the feet (bilateral) and progress up the legs. This is usually followed by symptoms in the hands that progress up the arms.

Organizations related to Neuropathy, Peripheral

Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
University of Chicago
Chicago IL 60637
Phone #: 773-702-5800
800 #: N/A
e-mail: information-millercenter@neurology.bsd.uchicago.edu
Home page: http://millercenter.uchicago.edu
MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
31 Center Drive
Bethesda MD 20892-2540
Phone #: 301-496-5751
800 #: 800-352-9424
e-mail: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Neuropathy Association
60 East 42nd Street
New York NY 10165
Phone #: 212-692-0662
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@neuropathy.org
Home page: http://www.neuropathy.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html