Overview
Peripheral neuropathy is damage or malfunction of the nerves on the outside of the brain and spinal cord. These nerves make up the peripheral nervous system, which sends information from your spinal cord and brain to the rest of your body. The condition may affect one or multiple nerves, depending on the amount and type of damage.
According to the National Institutes of Health, damage to these nerves may result in a variety of symptoms, which usually affect the hands and feet. The symptoms experienced by someone with peripheral neuropathy depend on the type of nerve that is damaged. The human body has many different types of nerves, including sensory nerves, motor nerves, and autonomic nerves.
Symptoms
There are many painful and debilitating symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy, which may include:
- A sharp, throbbing, burning, or jabbing pain
- Pain due to light touches or light weight
- A gradual onset of numbness in the feet or hands, which may spread to the arms and legs
- Prickling or tingling sensations in the hands and feet
- Muscle weakness
- Heat intolerance
- Excessive sweating or not being able to sweat
- Problems with digestion
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- A feeling of wearing gloves or socks when hands and feet are bare
- Loss of coordination
- Frequent falling
- Paralysis
Causes
Peripheral neuropathy may result from a variety of factors, including infections, traumatic injuries, metabolic problems, genetics, and toxin exposure. It may also be caused by some medications, including the antiarrhythmic medication amiodarone.
Treatment
Peripheral neuropathy is treated based on the underlying cause of the condition. In some cases, medications including acetaminophen, ibuprofen, tramadol, seizure medication, or antidepressants may be helpful in managing the pain and side effects of the condition. Ergonomic casts and splints may also help to stabilize limbs and ease some of the discomfort associated with peripheral neuropathy. Some patients may also find that transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) may be helpful to disrupt the body’s pain signals.
Lawsuits
Amiodarone is a medication prescribed to treat life-threatening heart arrhythmias and irregular heart beats. The drug works by stopping the electrical signals to the heart that cause it to beat irregularly. Because of dangerous side effects associated with the medication, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved amiodarone only for patients as a last resort. In addition to the risk of peripheral neuropathy in patients who take amiodarone over an extended period, the drug may also cause pulmonary toxicity, lung disease, liver failure, pulmonary fibrosis, congestive heart failure, blindness, and in some cases, death.
If you have suffered from peripheral neuropathy due to amiodarone treatments, you may qualify to hire an attorney and file a class action lawsuit against the drug manufacturer. Victims who file lawsuits regarding severe amiodarone side effects may be able to collect damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, reduced earning abilities, and out of pocket expenses related to their care.
