10 Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms Patients Can’t Ignore

Tens of millions of people in America deal with the challenges of peripheral neuropathy. Yet, many may not recognize the condition’s symptoms, resulting in significant damage that’s avoidable. That’s why your pharmacy or convenient care clinic should provide education about this condition. Ignoring the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy leads to a worsening of the condition. Instead, it’s time to start directing your customers to a customized neuropathy program. 

Which peripheral neuropathy symptoms might your customers be ignoring? Here are the ten most common red flags that people often overlook to their detriment.

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Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms 101

Which symptoms point to peripheral neuropathy? Patients report a wide variety of issues that can impact their quality of life and ability to live independently over time. These symptoms include:

1. Tingling
2. Numbness
3. Burning
4. Coldness
5. Shooting pains
6. Injuries
7. Sensitivity
8. Insomnia
9. Balance issues
10. Abnormal gait

The symptoms listed above may come on slowly, or customers may report an almost immediate onset. They may also increase and decrease depending on the day, providing a false sense of improvement before rearing their ugly heads once more. ​

​Don’t Let Customers Ignore the Symptoms

When you start a dialogue with your customers, they may report a prickling or tingling sensation, often in their feet, hands, or legs. Some liken it to a “pins and needles” sensation. Or, customers may experience an itching or burning feeling. These sensations may affect more significant areas of the skin, feeling as if their skin is “on fire.”

Other commonly mentioned patient complaints include numbness, especially in the toes and fingers. This lack of feeling may also extend to the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands over time. Some patients report coldness in these areas, even when their skin temperature remains normal. Unaccounted for injuries, especially in the feet, also represent another telltale marker. These injuries may become infected or develop into something much worse when left untreated. For these reasons, peripheral neuropathy is more than an inconvenience. It requires immediate attention. 

Other patients may experience the opposite of numbness, extreme sensitivity. This condition manifests as paresthesia, causing pain at the slightest touch. This hypersensitivity may come and go, ranging from mild to excruciating. Balance issues may also crop up as the condition progresses. The reason for this is that the nervous system isn’t sending the right signals. This often contributes to an unsteady or abnormal gait. Some people with peripheral neuropathy also report problems sleeping at night.

Provide the Treatment Options Patients Need

The human body experiences discomfort when something isn’t right. These sensations mark the body’s way of communicating issues. But with peripheral neuropathy, the same system the body uses for communication gets damaged. This can lead to hypersensitivity, strange sensations, or numbness. Patients must understand that peripheral neuropathy will continue to progress with the potential of leading to other dangerous conditions if left untreated. 

The good news is peripheral neuropathy can be managed with the proper therapeutic protocol. This includes encouraging patients to eat a diet rich in nitrates coupled with high-quality supplementation. As an independent pharmacist or convenient care clinician, you occupy a place on the frontline of medical treatment. You know which patients are being treated for diabetes, which raises a patient’s risk of developing peripheral neuropathy substantially. And you know which customers are already on medications to help with the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. You can help these individuals by providing them with better treatment options.

Improve Your Customers' Quality of Life

What else can you do to help patients manage the discomfort and pain of peripheral neuropathy symptoms? Start a conversation about the NeuropaCalm Care Program. This plan relies on the latest research to promote cell regeneration and blood flow while reducing inflammation.

The NeuropaCalm Care Program may also lead to a diminishing of the symptoms above, which translates into better quality of life for your customers and their caretakers -- from living independently longer to retaining their driver’s license, and improving sensation, strength, and balance. Ready to learn more about this effective care program? Here’s what you need to know about offering personalized, holistic NeuropaCalm therapy to your patients.