Peripheral neuropathy

March 2008     View PDF     En español

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and perhaps disabling. Sometimes PN is present even without symptoms. When people first get PN, they normally feel sensations like tingling, weakness, numbness, pinching, buzzing or stiffness in their toes and feet or fingers and hands. When PN is mild, you may feel annoyed with the sensation.

As it gets worse, people report having a cramping, burning, throbbing or shooting pain. When it’s more severe, you may have trouble standing or walking. Some people refer to the pain as “frostbite”, “pins and needles sticking in”, “a lit match held to my foot” or “walking on broken glass”. This could be so severe that wearing clothes or sleeping under blankets is painful. Less common symptoms include dizziness, diarrhea and impotence.

Symptoms of PN vary from person to person. They can appear suddenly, come and go, or persist over time. They usually affect both sides of the body at the same time, and they may get worse at night. You may also notice different sensations when you pick up or move something with your hands or feet.