Peripheral neuropathy

March 2008     View PDF     En español

Some people living with HIV will develop a disease of the nerves called peripheral neuropathy, or PN. It’s a common condition that affects nearly 20 million people in the US, more often in older adults. About 1 in 3 people with diabetes face PN, and it affects about 1 in 3 people with HIV at some time in their lives. PN can profoundly affect a person’s quality of life as well as her or his family or caretakers.

Peripheral means beyond the main part while neuro means nerves and pathy means disease. Since your brain and spinal cord are the center for your nervous system, PN is found in other parts of your body. Normally, PN affects the toes, feet and legs first. The fingers, hands and arms can become affected as well.

When diagnosed and treated early, PN can often be controlled. For some, though, managing PN can be challenging. It may take some time for you and your doctor to treat your PN properly. Certain treatments may work in some people but won’t work in others. Even after treatment, PN symptoms may still persist though probably to a lesser degree. This publication provides an overview of PN, including ways to manage and treat it.