Myth: If I have neuropathy, I will have pain.
                                                                                         
The symptoms of neuropathy vary depending on its underlying cause, the type of nerve(s) affected, their distribution and the severity of the disorder. There are three types of peripheral nerves affected:-

 1.  Sensory Nerves: affect sensation

 2.  Autonomic Nerves: affect internal organ functions; and,

 3.  Motor Nerves: affect muscles.

Pain is just one of several symptoms that you may experience when your sensory nerves are affected by neuropathy. You may also experience one or a combination of sensory symptoms resulting from insensitivity, hypersensitivity to touch and pressure, and impaired sense of position.

Numbness, Tingling and Pain

Sensory nerves, when damaged, can cause various symptoms. Early on, there may be spontaneous sensations, called paresthesias, which include numbness, tingling, pinching, sharp, deep stabs, electric shocks, or buzzing. These sensations are usually worse at night, and sometimes become painful and severe.

You may also experience unpleasant abnormal sensations when you touch something, sensations called dysesthesias because they are caused by stimuli.

Or, you may find yourself feeling nothing at all, in this case experiencing anesthesia, a lessening or absence of sensation.

Impaired Sense of Position

When you lose the ability to “sense” or feel your feet, you may experience a lack of coordination when you walk because you are not sure about the placement of your feet.   You may find yourself walking differently without really knowing how or why you are doing so. Chances are you have either widened your style of walking (in an unconscious effort to keep your balance) or you may be dragging their feet.

“Glove and Stocking Sensation”

This phrase describes what doctors call your odd feeling of wearing stockings or gloves or slippers when, in fact, your hands and feet are completely bare.