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Peripheral Neuropathy Basics: Causes, Symptoms and When to Call a Doctor
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves that carry signals between the brain, the spinal cord and the rest of the body. Tingling, numbness and weakness are common signs, and diabetes is the leading cause in the U.S. A doctor looks for the cause. Nervecept is a dietary supplement, not a treatment for it. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Written by the Nervecept label deskUpdated
The basics01
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves that carry signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. More than 100 types exist. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Peripheral means outside the center: your brain and spinal cord are the center, and the nerves running to your hands, feet and skin are the periphery.
When those nerves are damaged, messages arrive late, weak, scrambled or not at all. That is why one problem can show up as pain, numbness or weakness.
Think of the nerves as wiring in a house. Some wires carry touch to the brain, and some carry orders to the muscles. A person with damaged wiring may lose the feel of the floor, drop a cup, or wake with burning toes. Many shoppers who find Nervecept arrive with these symptoms, and they deserve the facts first.
Nervecept is a dietary supplement of 30 vegetable capsules. The label does not claim to treat any disease, and we found no trial of the capsules in nerve conditions. A doctor visit comes before any supplement.
Symptoms02
What are the signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?
The signs of peripheral neuropathy range from mild to severe. Common ones are numbness, tingling or prickling that usually starts in the feet or hands, sharp or burning pain, and weakness. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Some people also have extreme sensitivity to touch, poor coordination or falls. Balance problems and a reduced feeling of touch are on the NINDS list too. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
| What you notice | Nerves involved | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Tingling, prickling, numbness | Sensory nerves | Often starts in the feet or hands. See a doctor early. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy) |
| Burning or sharp pain | Pain-sensing nerves | Pain that persists needs an exam, not a guess. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy) |
| Weakness, clumsiness, falls | Motor nerves | Nerve problems can reach muscles. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy) |
Causes03
What causes peripheral neuropathy?
In the U.S., diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy. Other causes include injury, poor blood flow, autoimmune disease, kidney or liver disorders and nutritional problems. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Alcohol use, toxins, certain medicines, chemotherapy and infections also appear on the NINDS list. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Mayo Clinic adds that low levels of B vitamins, copper or vitamin E can be behind it. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Diabetes
High blood sugar over time can harm nerves, most often in the feet and legs. See the guide to diabetic neuropathy and foot care.
Nutrition and alcohol
Low B vitamins, copper or vitamin E, and heavy alcohol use, can damage nerves. A blood test shows a shortage. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Medicines and toxins
Some drugs, including chemotherapy, and some toxins can harm nerves. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Injury and pressure
A hard knock or a long squeeze on a nerve can cause trouble in one spot. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Why does the long list matter? The fix for one cause does little for another. Steadier blood sugar helps diabetic nerves, not a pinched nerve at the wrist.
Look-alikes04
Can low vitamin B12 or a squeezed nerve cause the same symptoms?
Yes. Low vitamin B12 can cause numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, and a squeezed nerve, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome, can cause numbness in the fingers. (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12) (MedlinePlus, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
Both are found and treated differently from general peripheral neuropathy, which is one more reason to get examined first.
Take B12 first. Its nerve effects can appear without anemia, so early diagnosis matters. Metformin might lower B12 levels, so if you take it and notice tingling, say so at your visit. (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
Now the squeezed nerve. In carpal tunnel syndrome the median nerve is squeezed at the wrist. MedlinePlus lists pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand, often starting in the thumb and next two or three fingers. (MedlinePlus, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
Nervecept: from $49 a bottlePacks of 2, 3 or 6 bottles · 30 capsules each · refund window 60 days
See packsWarning signs05
When should you see a doctor for numbness or tingling?
See a doctor right away if you notice tingling, weakness or pain in your hands or feet. Mayo Clinic says early diagnosis and treatment give the best chance of preventing further nerve damage. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Call 911 for sudden weakness or numbness on one side, trouble speaking, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Get checked rather than waiting for a supplement to work.
- New, spreading or worsening numbness or tinglingA reason to book a visit, not to try another capsule. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
- A sore or blister on a numb footIf you have diabetes, check your feet daily and report sores early. (CDC, Your Feet and Diabetes)
- Weakness, clumsiness or fallsNerve problems can reach muscles. A doctor looks for the cause. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
- Pain that wakes you or keeps climbingPersistent or severe pain deserves an exam. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
- Numbness while taking metforminLow vitamin B12 can cause numbness and tingling, and metformin can lower B12. (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
- Symptoms after an injury or on one side onlyA pinched or compressed nerve is a different problem from a general one. (MedlinePlus, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
Call 911For sudden weakness or numbness on one side, trouble speaking, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Get checked rather than waiting for a supplement to work.
Why not wait and see? NIDDK says diabetic nerve damage cannot be reversed once it occurs, so the goal is to catch it early. (NIDDK, Treating Diabetic Neuropathy)
Diagnosis06
How do doctors diagnose peripheral neuropathy?
Doctors diagnose peripheral neuropathy from your medical history, a physical exam, a neurological exam and blood tests. The aim is to find the cause. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Treating that cause, such as managing diabetes, can sometimes let the nerves recover. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Your story
When did it start, where do you feel it, and what medicines and supplements do you take?
The physical and neurological exams
The doctor checks strength, reflexes and your feel of touch. This shows which nerves may be involved.
Blood tests
Blood work can look for causes such as high blood sugar or a vitamin shortage. B12 is a common example. (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
Supplements07
Do supplements help peripheral neuropathy?
No supplement has been shown to treat peripheral neuropathy in the sources we checked. For diabetes, NCCIH says most supplements have no evidence of benefit for the disease or its complications. (NCCIH, Diabetes and Supplements)
A supplement may correct a proven shortage, such as low B12. It does not fix the many other causes.
Keep taking prescribed medicine exactly as directed, and tell your doctor and pharmacist about every supplement you use. (NIH ODS, Supplements: What to Know)
What about Nervecept? It is a dietary supplement whose label carries the FDA statement that it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Its ingredients were studied mostly in knee osteoarthritis, and one capsule holds well under the studied daily amounts for most lines. We found no trial of the capsules in nerve conditions. (NIH, GAIT Trial News Release)
The sales page goes much further than the label. Health claims need competent and reliable scientific evidence, and testimonials do not replace it. (FTC, Health Products Compliance Guidance) Read the claims against the evidence before you decide. If you have diabetes, read the foot care guide. If you take blood thinners, read supplements and blood thinners.
FAQ08
What do people ask about neuropathy basics?
A common question first: What is peripheral neuropathy in simple words? It and 5 more are answered below.
Every answer gives the short reply first and the reasoning after, with a source when we have one.
What is peripheral neuropathy in simple words?
Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage outside the brain and spinal cord. Those nerves carry touch, pain and movement signals, so damaged ones can cause numbness, tingling, pain or weakness. More than 100 types are known, and each has its own causes. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
What are the first signs of peripheral neuropathy?
Numbness, prickling or tingling that usually starts in the feet or hands is the classic first sign. Some people feel sharp or burning pain, or become very sensitive to touch. Others notice weakness or poor coordination first. Tell a doctor early. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
What causes peripheral neuropathy?
In the U.S., diabetes is the leading cause. Other causes include injury, poor blood flow, autoimmune disease, kidney or liver disorders, nutritional problems, alcohol use, toxins, some medicines, chemotherapy and infections. Often a doctor must test to find which one applies. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
How is peripheral neuropathy diagnosed?
A doctor starts with your medical history, a physical exam and a neurological exam, and often orders blood tests. The goal is to find the cause, because treating the cause is what can help the nerves. Bring a list of everything you take. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
When is peripheral neuropathy an emergency?
Call 911 for sudden weakness or numbness on one side, trouble speaking, or loss of bladder or bowel control. For tingling, weakness or pain in the hands or feet that is new, book a visit soon, since early care gives the best chance of preventing more damage. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Can low vitamin B12 cause numbness and tingling?
Yes. Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet can occur with vitamin B12 deficiency, even without anemia. Metformin, a common diabetes medicine, might lower B12. A blood test can check it, so ask your doctor before guessing. (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
Who wrote this09
Who is behind this Nervecept write-up?
The Nervecept label desk drafted it from the bottle, the sales page and the public sources linked in the text.
Once a clinician has reviewed it, the reviewer's name appears in the box below.
Drafted from the bottle, the sales page and the NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and journal sources named in the text.
Most recent update: . How we work is set out in the editorial standards and the review rules. This website belongs to a USA authorized Nervecept retailer. It is neither the maker of the capsules nor the distributor named on the label. Purchases made through our order links earn us a commission.
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Three good next stops are diabetes and foot care, side effects, faq.
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