About the disease
Polyneuropathy is a severe condition, which affects different areas of the nervous system. The disease initially develops in the discal areas and later progresses more rapidly. As a result, a person develops peripheral paralysis. The lesions in the nervous system cause serious disorders in the vegetative-vascular structures. Due to this, a person’s limbs become numb and, consequently, the quality of life changes dramatically.
There are a few types of polyneuropathy. These are characterised according to the causes of the condition. The disease can be inflammatory, traumatic, toxic or allergic. An acute type of the disease develops due to the consequences of intoxication. The person needs a full body detox to avoid them. The condition can manifest its symptoms in a few days, although you will need a few months for recovery.
The disease can develop due to various factors. These can be genetic – related to immune disorders. The human body attacks its own muscles and nerve fibres thus producing immune antibodies.
Symptoms
- Significant muscle weakness
- Reduction of muscle volume and tone
- Severe and continuous dizziness
- Fast heartbeat
- Dry skin on the affected limbs
- Problems with stool, frequent constipations
- Hair loss
- Numb limbs
Diagnosis
- The examination will include blood test, which determines if it contains chemical elements, person’s blood sugar levels and other markers. Biopsy is among the most accurate methods. It examines a fragment of the nerve under microscope.
- An additional consultation of both therapist and endocrinologist will be needed for obtaining more accurate data for the examination. If a pregnant woman develops the condition, her examination will be supervised by an obstetrician-gynecologist. State-of-the-art MRI can determine the location of demyelination foci, range and areas of lesion.
- The specialists will also determine patient’s family history and if their closest relatives suffer from rapid fatigue, leg muscle weakness. Foot deformity is also alarming. The specialist will consider the patient’s current prescription of drugs that they have taken and if these could be the cause of their complicated condition. Once the specialist has received the results of examinations and tests, he can choose the most optimal treatment option.
Treatment
- If the patient has hereditary polyneuropathy, its treatment abroad aims to consistently relieve and reduce the symptoms. The treatment of any other condition also aims to do it in order to slow down the progression of the pathological progress. Physical therapy is among the key aspects of the comprehensive treatment. It helps to maintain muscle tone and to provide their functioning.
- There are no effective drug treatments for hereditary forms of the disease. In this case only supportive therapy can be prescribed, which includes administration of both vitamins and neurotrophic drugs. Glucose is prescribed for a porphyric form of the condition. It contributes to the improvement of patient’s state of health. To provide an effective treatment, the specialists also use painkillers. The curative measures for a chronic inflammatory form of the disease involve membrane plasmapheresis and intake of immunoglobulin.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko
