Neuropathy of the lower limbs is a disease that affects the nervous system, in which nerve cells on the periphery are involved in the pathological process. It can arise as an independent disease or be a complication of other diseases. Each person will be able to recognize the neuropathy of the lower extremities without special diagnostics - the symptoms of this ailment are clear and manifest in the early stages.
Symptoms of toxic neuropathy
Toxic neuropathy is a group of peripheral nerve diseases that connect the lower extremities with the central nervous system with nerve impulses. The cause of the development of such a disease can be the impact on the human body of various external or internal toxins, for example, alcohol or HIV infection. The signs of toxic neuropathy of the lower limbs are:
- pain in the legs or feet (most often they have a burning character and are accompanied by severe spasms in the calf muscles);
- a feeling of "crawling";
- muscle atrophy ;
- weakness of muscles (over time this leads to severe walking disorder);
- decreased sensitivity in the feet;
- a breakdown in the function of the vegetative system (this can be manifested by impotence, frequent urination, and even a sharp change in the level of blood pressure);
- disturbance of balance;
- change the color of the skin.
Often, this type of disease occurs subclinically, that is, asymptomatic. In such cases, the diagnosis can be made only after an electrophysiological study.
Symptoms of ischemic neuropathy
An acute violation of the arterial blood flow can lead to the development of ischemic neuropathy of the lower limbs. The main symptom of this disease is pain in the distal part of the foot. It manifests itself in motion, and at rest. In the prone position, pain increases when the limb rises above the body, and decreases when the patient hangs it from the bed. Due to the fact that patients often sleep with their legs hanging down, they develop edema of the foot and ankle. In severe cases, pain does not go away at all, which causes a severe deterioration in the overall psychological and physical condition of the patient.
In the absence of proper treatment of ischemic neuropathy of the lower extremities, such symptoms as:
- dizziness;
- impaired movement;
- decreased muscle tone.
Distal neuropathy
Distal neuropathy of the lower extremities is revealed in almost half of all patients with diabetes mellitus. The main signs of the development of this disease are:
- paresthesia ;
- numbness;
- feeling of chilliness.
In some cases, symmetrical violations of temperature, vibration, pain and tactile sensitivity are possible. Signs of distal neuropathy of the lower extremities also include pain in the legs and an unpleasant burning sensation. They intensify only at night. Often when walking, the intensity of pain is reduced. Early diagnosis of distal neuropathy of the lower limbs is very important, as it significantly reduces the risk of ulceration and possible limb amputation.
Sensory polyneuropathy
Sensory neuropathy of the lower limbs is a disease whose symptoms are caused by the damage of neurons responsible for motor functions. In this disease, patients develop:
- loss of sensitivity;
- itching;
- unreasonable sensations of burning or tingling;
- poor perception of heat and cold.
With sensory neuropathy, there may also be pain in the limbs. Most often it is stinging or shooting and appears asymmetrically, especially at the very beginning of the disease.