What is polyneuropathy?
Are you experiencing sudden, sharp pains? Do you often deal with numbness or tingling in your hands and feet? Do your legs feel weak, as if they may give from underneath you at any moment?
These are all common symptoms of a condition known as polyneuropathy. Polyneuropathy can be either acute or chronic in nature, and it occurs when a person’s peripheral nerves sustain damage. These nerves continue throughout your body, which is why this condition can affect seemingly every part of you at times – your nerves, skin, muscles, and organs.
This condition can cause unpleasant sensations and feelings of discomfort and pain. Physical therapy at Partners in Physical Therapy in Lake Charles can provide significant relief, however. Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment and learn more about managing polyneuropathy.
Types and causes of polyneuropathy
There are two kinds of polyneuropathy, acute and chronic.
Acute neuropathy occurs suddenly with severe symptoms. It’s very common to develop this type when you have an infection or an autoimmune dysfunction that results in damage to your nerves. These cases are treated relatively quickly.
Chronic polyneuropathy occurs when you’re experiencing symptoms for an extended period of time. This kind takes longer to treat and can be the result of diabetes or kidney failure, alcoholism, hypothyroidism, and other health conditions.
A Lake Charles physical therapist will be able to determine whether or not you are dealing with either type of polyneuropathy.
Symptoms of polyneuropathy
Symptoms of this condition may vary from patient to patient, however, commonly experienced ones include the following, says Healthline:
- “random, odd sensations, known as paresthesia
- sudden sharp pains
- burning or tingling sensations, especially in your feet and hands, known as distal polyneuropathy
- feeling extremely sensitive to touch, known as allodynia
- numbness
- feeling weak in your legs or arms (sometimes due to weak or atrophied muscles)
- inability to walk straight, leading to stumbling or falling
- trouble swallowing”
If you’re experiencing these kinds of symptoms, it’s important to understand you are not alone! Partners in Physical Therapy’s skilled physical therapists can help to provide relief for your condition, build up your strength, and help you walk without discomfort and pain.
How can physical therapy help?
Physical therapy can help you to regain control of your body if you’re living with acute or chronic polyneuropathy related pain. A Partners in Physical Therapy therapist has an arsenal of treatment options available to help you manage nerve pain, whether your discomfort has been caused by a traumatic injury or another issue altogether.
ChoosePT states the benefits of choosing physical therapy for treatment of polyneuropathy. “Physical therapists play a vital role in helping individuals improve and maintain functions that may be limited by PN. Your physical therapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan to help address your specific needs and goals.”
Treatment may include nerve gliding activities to encourage healing of the peripheral nerve, balance and coordination exercises, and bracing methods.
You deserve true pain relief from polyneuropathy
If you’re living with pain from an acute or chronic condition, contact Partners in Physical Therapy in Lake Charles to learn more about our holistic and effective treatment methods for polyneuropathy. We’re here to help you, and we won’t rest until you’re feeling better.
