Peripheral neuropathy causes.

Diabetes is the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy in adults living in developed countries.

Chemotherapy for cancer, old age, and physical injury, such as by surgical operation are also common causes of PN.

In about 1 in 5 of cases the cause is unknown, and called idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. Code ICD-9 356.9.

It can be inherited from family genes (hereditary), such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

There are at least 581 other conditions claimed to have started PN, listed here.

Peripheral neuropathy can happen quickly, as Acute peripheral neuropathy, a quick appearance of nerve damage,

or slowly, as Chronic peripheral neuropathy, a gradual but persistent damage, over months or years, to the nerves of the hands or feet.

This is the most common form.

PN effects the nerve core (axonal neuropathies) or the myelin sheath (demyelinating neuropathies). More rarely it is the

nerve cells, the neurones, themselves.

Diabetes 

Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy

At least 50% of  diabetics develop some type of neuropathy, some say 60%. People with diabetes for over 25 years nearly

always suffer nerve damage.

1 in 4 people with diabetes do not know they are diabetic.

About 1 in 6 of people with diabetes in the UK do not know they have it, of which 2 in 3 develop or already have developed nerve damage.

Chemotherapy 

Chemotherapy is used in the treatment of cancer. The chemicals used are very toxic and often cause severe side effects which may include

peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathic pain caused by more neurotoxic chemotherapy  (e.g. taxanes, platinums, vinca alkaloids, bortezomib

(Velcade)) happens to 20% to 40% of patients. A full dosage of Taxol will damage the peripheral nerves of 80% of people.

Painful chemotherapy-
induced neuropathy can carry on from months to years after finishing chemotherapy, often peaking in severity

6 months after finishing a course of treatment.

Aging

Aging is another main cause of peripheral neuropathy. The aging process itself can cause it, as can falls, operations,

accidents and other causes.

Alcoholism

Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to PN, caused by the alcohol itself hurting the nerves and also the typically

poor vitamin deficient diet of long-term alcoholism.

Other causes of PN

Metabolic Disorders

As well as Diabetes [depressed pancreas organ and/or adrenals] there are other uncommon metabolic disorders that can trigger PN.

Thyroid disorder usually causes neuropathies including PN, either by being underactive (hypothyroidism) or an over-production

(hyperthyroidism) of the thyroid hormone that controls the speed of all your activity, your metabolism.

http://sjccfthynet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/neuropathy-symptons-and-thyroid-disease.html

http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/68/6/750.long

Nutritional Deficiency

Malnutrition is a common cause of PN. It can come about from poor dietary choices or a problem in the digestion, absorption, assimilation

or utilisation of nutrients. Malnutrition is much more common than most people think. In fact because of serious depletion {?} of minerals in the soil on most farms many people are deficient in many vitamins and minerals, leading to disease.

Deficiencies of vitamins E and the B vitamins, particularly a deficiency in vitamins B12 (methyl- or hydrocobalamin), B1, niacin and B6, are linked to PN. Chromium deficiency is linked to diabetes. Supplementation with these or Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) or GLA (an

essential fatty acid) may help.

Infection

Infection by bacteria, fungus or virus can cause the nerve damage of peripheral neuropathies, such as shingles (Post-Herpetic Neuralgia)

(PHN) (from the Herpes zoster or varicella-zoster virus)), Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C, leprosy, HIV,

Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that is spread by ticks or diphtheria, a bacterial infection rare in the UK but common in some other parts

of the world, particularly in developing countries.

Medical Drugs 

Pharmaceutical medicines often cause side effects, which can be very varied, depending on each

person’s unique makeup. PN is a frequent side effect of some drugs, particularly chemotherapy agents for cancer and treatments for HIV/AIDS.

While possibly less than 5% of neuropathies are medication-induced there are quite a few prescriptions

that have shown a tendency to cause the nerve damage of PN.

Here is a list of over 1168 drugs that may have caused PN in some people.

Cancer

Cancers can cause PN, by releasing harmful substances or simply by pressing as they grow. The most common types of 

cancer that sometimes damage nerves are 

Lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphatic system (a series of glands that is your waste disposal system and is part of the immune system)

Multiple myeloma – a cancer of blood plasma cells.

Lung cancer.

These cancers can produce chemicals that damage the peripheral nerves, known as paraneoplastic peripheral neuropathy.

Even “benign” growths and tumours, not dangerously cancerous, can cause PN by pressing on a nerve or it’s blood supply.

Growths can form directly on the nerves themselves, or tumors can put pressure on surrounding nerves. Both cancerous (malignant) and

noncancerous (benign) tumors can contribute to peripheral neuropathy.

Poisons/Pollution

Many toxins and chemical poisons can harm the nervous system. If you suspect you might have been exposed to a poison seek help from a

qualified healthcare professional.

Heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, lead and thallium are common and very poisonous pollutants, contaminating people through the air,

water, physical contact, food and herbs.

Some pesticides, especially the organophospates, and also solvents can result in nerve damage. These insecticides work by being nerve

poisons and are a real danger to the public. If you are concerned about this pollution you can try to avoid them by only eating “organic”

whole foods.

Sniffing glue, solvents or other toxic compounds can also cause peripheral neuropathy. Certain herbal medicines, especially Chinese herbal

medicines, are particularly high in mercury and arsenic.

Compression/Physical injury or Surgery

Injury can cause PN. Crushing traumas such as falls and car accidents can damage the peripheral nervous system. Compression or pinching of

nerves can be caused by being in a plaster cast or on crutches, being in a strange position for a long time or by simply repeating the same motion

too long e.g.carpal tunnel syndrome.

Damage and inflammation or pressure on a nerve from an accidental injury, or by surgery or by simply excessive repeated motion like typing can

sometimes squeeze or even damage a nerve, causing neuropathy such as Carpal Tunnel syndrome.

Family history

Inherited genes from your parents can lead to the development of hereditary diseases such as diabetes or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Inflammation

“Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants.[1] The classical signs of acute inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process. ” wikipedia

Inflammation has many different causes, from physical injury to allergic reactions. The best practice is to avoid sources of inflammation and to promote anti-inflammatory responses in the body, such as by relaxation exercises like yoga and meditation, and by eating an anti-inflammatory diet [LINK], high in whole plant food and low in pro-inflammatory foods such as meat.

Protein abnormalities

Auto-immune diseases

Rheumatoid arthritis has been linked to peripheral neuropathy.

A recent study found that some people with celiac disease had neuropathic symptoms before the gastrointestinal symptoms of celiac disease appeared. The results of this study, and the fact that 10 percent of people with celiac disease suffer from an associated neurological condition (usually peripheral neuropathy or ataxia – a condition characterized by jerky, uncoordinated movements and gait), indicates that patients with neuropathy of an unknown cause should be tested for celiac disease.

Lupus, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, necrotizing vasculitis and Sjogren’s syndrome.

Chronic liver disease

Chronic kidney disease

Connective tissue disorders

Hypothyroid

Hypothyroidism can cause swollen tissues from fluid retention that press on nerves, causing neuropathy.

DRUGS

Some of the drugs that may cause peripheral neuropathy include –

Cancer Chemotherapy : particularly Platinums and Microtubule inhibitors (MTI) such as

Taxanes, Vinca alkaloids, and Epothilones, such as advanced breast cancer and lymphoma

Incl. methotrexate, vincristine, paclitaxel, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, bortezomib & ixabepilone

Anti-seizure/Anticonvulsants : for epilepsy, including Phenytoin (Dilantin®),

phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline)

Heart or blood pressure medications : Amiodarone; Hydralazine, Perhexiline

Anti-alcohol drugs : Disulfiram

Infection fighting drugs : Metronidazole (Flagyl®) for parasites; Nitrofurantoin and

INH (Isoniazid)

Thalidomide : used to treat multiple myeloma and infections

Skin condition treatment drugs : Dapsone

Antiretrovirals : a group of different medications that are used to treat HIV infections

Here is a list of more medicines connected to causing nerve damage.

Chronic use of following drugs can lower vitamin B12 levels to deficient levels that may cause PN: Acid-Reflux Antacids; Proton Pump Inhibitors; Metformin; Histamine 2 Receptor Antagonists (H2RA); Chloroamphenicol; Colchicine, and Ethanol (alcohol).