Friday, February, 10, 2012

Sensorimotor polyneuropathy

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Polyneuropathy - sensorimotor


Treatment

The goals of treatment include:

  • Finding the cause
  • Controlling the symptoms
  • Promoting a patient's self-care and independence

Depending on the cause, treatment may include:

  • Changing medications, if they are causing the problem
  • Controlling blood sugar levels
  • Not drinking alcohol
  • Taking daily nutritional supplements

PROMOTING SELF-CARE AND INDEPENDENCE

  • Exercises and retraining to maximize function of the damaged nerves
  • Job (vocational) therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Orthopedic treatments
  • Physical therapy
  • Wheelchairs, braces, or splints

CONTROL OF SYMPTOMS

Safety is an important consideration for people with neuropathy. Lack of muscle control and decreased sensation may increase the risk of falls or other injuries.

If you have movement difficulties, consider the following safety measures:

  • Leave lights on.
  • Remove obstacles (such as loose rugs that may slip on the floor).
  • Test water temperature before bathing.
  • Use railings.
  • Wear protective shoes (such as those with closed toes and low heels).
  • Wear shoes that have non-slippery soles.

Other tips include:

  • Check your feet (or other affected area) daily for bruises, open skin areas, or other injuries, which you may not notice and can become infected.
  • Check the inside of shoes often for grit or rough spots that may injure your feet.
  • Visit a foot doctor (podiatrist) to assess and reduce the risk of injury to your feet.
  • Avoid leaning on your elbows, crossing your knees, or being in other positions that put prolonged pressure on certain body areas.

Medications used to treat this condition:

  • Over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers to reduce stabbing pain (neuralgia)
  • Anticonvulsants (gabapentin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, pregabalin)
  • Antidepressants (duloxetine, amitriptyline, desimpramine, nortriptyline, venlafaxine)
  • Lotions, creams, or medicated patches
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Review Date: 02/06/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurolosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)