There are many diseases of the nervous system, which are expressed in very unpleasant sensations that arise throughout the body. They need to be promptly and adequately diagnosed in order to then select the most effective effective therapy, both medicinal and related. One of these diseases is polyneuropathy of the lower extremities. Symptoms and treatment of this disease will be discussed later in the article.
Hedgehogs and health
Since childhood, everyone knows the sensation of running “hedgehogs” in their legs, if you sit for a long time, keeping your legs under you, and then lower them to the floor. You won’t even be able to get up right away - the feeling of numbness is so unpleasant. But, unfortunately, people of different ages can manifest such symptoms on their own. In this case, numbness, tingling, increased tactile sensitivity, soreness are not signs of childish pranks, but a serious health problem.
Diseases of the nervous system, expressed in such minor manifestations, can lead to disability. One of them is polyneuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. Symptoms of this problem resemble a child’s game of “hedgehogs” running in the legs or arms, but the severity of the problem requires contacting a specialist to make a diagnosis and select the right treatment.
Peripheral nerve damage
The nervous system of any living organism is a complex interconnection of numerous nervous structures responsible for all processes in the body and its connection with the outside world. This component of the human body is conditionally divided into several departments. One of them is the peripheral nervous system. It got its name due to the fact that it is located outside the main structures - the brain and spinal cord. It is vulnerable to mechanical stress, toxins, because it is not protected by the skeleton or the blood-brain barrier. Polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is a fairly common diagnosis in people of different ages and sex.
Specialists characterize this problem as a violation of the proper functioning of the peripheral nervous system, expressed in flaccid peripheral paralysis, impaired sensitivity, vegetovascular disorders and trophic damage to the skin.
This pathological process proceeds mainly in the distal parts, most often in the legs - lower limbs.
Classification of polyneuropathy
Symptoms of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities help to find out the cause of the appearance of this problem, so the history should be collected very carefully. Doctors classify this disease in several ways.
Due to the appearance of a problem (etiology), polyneuropathy is divided into:
- allergic
- inflammatory
- toxic;
- traumatic.
The next criterion for the separation of this type of disease is the pathomorphology of damage. In this case, axonal and demyelinating polyneuropathy is isolated . Like any other disease, this problem is also divided according to the nature of the course. There are acute, subacute and chronic forms.
Disease of the legs, arms and not only
Diseases of the nervous system require careful diagnosis. It is impossible only by verbal description of the patient's condition to make an accurate diagnosis. One of the most difficult to diagnose diseases is polyneuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. Symptoms and treatment of this disease in each case will be strictly individual, although the main stages of therapy are almost the same.
The defeat of the nerve endings of the peripheral nervous system most often begins with distal sections. In the absence of adequate treatment or a particularly complex course of the disease, the lesion passes to the proximal nerve endings. Very often, pathology captures symmetrical parts of the body. Sensory impairment can be considered the onset of the disease, then vegetovascular problems appear.
Treatment of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities requires the identification of the exact cause of its occurrence. Most often, violations appear due to alcohol poisoning, exposure to carbon monoxide, arsenic, and organophosphorus compounds. The next group of causes is intoxication, diabetes mellitus, diphtheria or vitamin deficiency. It is also possible to develop this problem with prolonged use of certain medications.
Alcohol and nervous system diseases
Alcoholism is considered a serious disease that can lead a person to disability and death. The problem of some people suffering from this addiction is polyneuropathy of the lower extremities. A photo of this disease shows what terrible consequences it can lead to. As a rule, in this case it is very, very difficult to get rid of them.
Alcoholic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is the most common health complication caused by alcohol abuse. Ethyl alcohol and its metabolites adversely affect all tissues and organs, while the main blow is applied to the nervous system. Disturbed microcirculation of blood, the work of the liver, intestines. Pathological changes in the cardiovascular system occur.
This type of disease develops gradually if a person regularly abuses alcohol. But damage to the peripheral nervous system and lower extremities can occur in a few days, for example, with heavy drinking of low-quality alcohol. Often people suffering from chronic alcoholism neglect the first symptoms of this serious disease - cramps in the legs, numbness of the feet and toes. The disease spreads, rising higher in the body and captures not only the legs, but also the arms. Then there are external signs of damage to nerve endings - blue skin, upper and lower extremities. The skin on the arms and legs becomes thinned, like "marble." You can also notice a change in gait.
Polyneuropathy of the upper and lower extremities against the background of alcohol dependence is treated with a complete rejection of alcohol. Close relatives may be required to convince him to abandon his addiction. Without this step, even the highest quality treatment will not bring any satisfactory results.
Diabetes
One of the complications of diabetes can be lower polyneuropathy. Symptoms of this pathology often arise with existing problems with the absorption of sugar.
Due to the fact that the body suffers from an excess of carbohydrates, a malfunction of the nerve endings of the peripheral system occurs. Pulses are slower, hemoglobin due to elevated sugar levels poorly attaches oxygen. Tissues receive it in smaller quantities, since their metabolic processes are disrupted.
The first manifestation of diabetic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is a tingling sensation in the legs, as well as pain rising from the tips of the fingers to the ankles. With the progression of the pathology, quite strong pains in the legs appear, which are especially intense at night. They intensify in stressful situations, overwork, but when walking they decrease slightly. It is noteworthy that such painful sensations do not change if you change the position of the legs. The following symptoms also apply to late signs of the disease:
- atrophy of the leg muscles;
- muscle weakness in the toes;
- a change in skin color - it becomes bright pink or red, and such a violation can only occur in places, spots, some areas of the skin can become dark;
- the thickness and shape of the toenails changes.
At the last stage of polyneuropathy against diabetes mellitus, the patient develops osteoarthropathy of the foot - flatfoot appears. The foot becomes wider, ankle joints are actively deformed.
Treatment of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, which developed against the background of diabetes mellitus, must be carried out in conjunction with the therapy of the underlying disease, using medical and physiotherapeutic agents.
The main methods of treatment
Diabetic or alcoholic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, requires careful and timely diagnosis, as well as complex treatment. Disturbances in the work of the nerve endings of the peripheral nervous system can be treated with complex therapy using the achievements of pharmaceuticals, proven traditional medicine, and physiotherapy.
The basis for the competent treatment of a disease such as polyneuropathy is the administration of prescribed medications. A complex of drugs to normalize the work of the peripheral nervous system should be correctly selected by a specialist. He prescribes medications, focusing on concomitant problems, the patient’s history, the course of the disease, its stage and etiology. As additional means of therapy, you can use traditional medicine recipes, which the doctor will recommend. Often, he also prescribes a set of physiotherapy procedures that help eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
Tissue and blood flow stimulants
One of the most serious problems of the nervous system is polyneuropathy of the lower extremities. The drugs that are used in modern medicine make it possible to partially normalize the state of the peripheral nerve endings themselves, as well as the tissues in which they work. There are very, very many such drugs available now. They belong to different pharmacological groups, which are separated from each other by the composition and principles of work.
For example, the drug Actovegin contains Actovegin concentrate, which is made from the blood of calves. This tool belongs to the group of tissue regeneration stimulants. His area of work is the normalization of metabolic processes due to the activation of their recovery functions.
Another medicine often prescribed during the treatment of polyneuropathy is Instenon. It belongs to the group of vasodilating drugs. It contains the following components:
- Hexobendin hydrochloride. Due to the activation of anaerobic glycolysis and pentose cycles, it increases the utilization of glucose and oxygen. The energy obtained as a result of these processes is used to enhance the synthesis and metabolic cycles of synaptic transmission.
- Etamivan. Participates in the stabilization of the state of neural complexes of the cortex and stem structures of the brain and nervous system.
- Etofillin. Helps maintain cardiac activity.
In the treatment of diabetic or alcoholic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, a drug such as Trental may be required. Its active component is the substance pentoxifylline, which is a derivative of purine. It has antiaggregatory, angioprotective, vasodilating effects, and also improves blood microcirculation.
Choosing the drugs in this group should be the attending physician who knows all the nuances of the course of the disease and the general condition of the patient.
Neurometabolic drugs
Symptoms of polyneuropathy of the upper and lower extremities quite seriously worsen the quality of life. Treatment should be carefully considered by a specialist in each case. For example, the long-known and popular drug "Cerebrolysin" helps many patients. It is one of the most powerful neurometabolic agents. Its active substance helps to restore the tissues of nerve fibers, synthesizing the protein inside them and at the same time protecting them from harmful substances.
Also, very often in the treatment of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, preparations containing thioctic acid, for example, “Tilept”, can be used. This substance is an active metabolite that affects the processes that occur in the tissues of the body, in particular, in the nervous system. This drug or its analogues have an antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic and detoxifying effect on the body.
Another group of drugs used in the treatment of this disease improves the conduction of nerve impulses. This may be the drug "Neuromidin", which contains the substance ipidacrine, which belongs to cholinomimetics and has an effect on the nervous system.
Pain Relief
Treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities requires the use of pain medications. They should help the patient feel more comfortable, normalize his condition. Which drug to choose is individually decided by the attending physician together with the patient. External painkillers will help one, and others will benefit from anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or sleeping pills.
Seeking help among ordinary analgesics is not worth it. Polyneuropathy studies have proven that they do not bring relief. One of the sought after remedies for such a disease is Gabapentin. The active substance in it has the same name as the drug itself. It is both an analgesic and anticonvulsant. The doctor may prescribe a medicine such as Pregabalin, which also has an anticonvulsant effect.
Anesthesia for polyneuropathy of the lower extremities depends on the individual characteristics of the course of the disease, and therefore the choice of medicine is a joint decision of the doctor and patient.
Antioxidant therapy
The treatment of a disease such as polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, in the vast majority of cases, includes agents that have an antioxidant effect. However, some drugs from neurometabolics are able to have such an effect on the body.
Diabetic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities especially requires the use of these drugs. Thioctic acid, which was mentioned above, has an antioxidant effect on the tissues of the nervous system. For example, it is contained in the modern drug "Berlition". It binds free radicals, which has a pathological effect on all tissues and organs. Mexidol has the same effect.
Vitamins for polyneuropathy
The treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy of the lower extremities cannot be imagined without a properly selected complex of vitamins. It is good when a person receives all the important components for the proper functioning of the body along with food. But often the diet is not enough to make up for many components. Doctors additionally prescribe some vitamins.
For example, vitamins of groups B1, 6, 12, which have a nootropic effect, are necessary for the functioning of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Vitamin E is one of the strongest antioxidants. It protects the cells of the nervous system from the harmful oxidation of free radicals or other substances. In addition, this vitamin affects the elasticity of cell membranes.
Treatment of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities of any etiology will necessarily include a complex of vitamins selected according to the course of the disease. Your doctor will also probably recommend taking folic acid. It is sometimes called vitamin B9. It has an important influence on the creation of new cells and helps maintain their health.
Physiotherapeutic procedures
Preparations for the treatment of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities are prescribed by a neurologist. He will certainly supplement them with physiotherapy, which helps to normalize the functioning of the lower and upper limbs, as well as contribute to the activation of metabolic processes in the tissues, improving the overall well-being of the patient. Such patients need a comprehensive massage and regular sports. Effective methods are:
- myostimulation;
- plasmapheresis;
- acupuncture.
Exercise is aimed at improving muscle tone. A high-quality treatment of polyneuropathy of the lower and upper extremities cannot be imagined without simple but effective methods - sprains, inclinations, swings. About what exercises the patient should perform, the attending physician will tell.
ethnoscience
The treatment of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is not limited to drugs. It can be supplemented by the use of traditional medicine.The patient must remember that any use of herbal preparations must be approved by the attending physician. So, for the treatment of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities are used:
- rosemary;
- St. John's wort
- Bay leaf;
- fenugreek;
- milk thistle;
- hop;
- sage;
- eleutherococcus.
These plants are used in the form of infusions and decoctions, lotions and bath additives. The use of folk remedies in the treatment of polyneuropathy should be agreed with the attending physician. It should be remembered that therapy can be 6 or more months. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the daily preparation of decoctions or infusions, so that the result is pronounced and stable.
Polyneuropathy of the lower extremities is a serious problem that can appear for many reasons. You should pay attention to the unpleasant sensations of numbness, tingling in the legs and arms, in order to undergo a quality examination in time and detect the disease in the early stages. Only then treatment will help return life to normal, without mobility restrictions.