At first, you feel fine. But soon, you notice a tingling sensation in your right leg. You’re sure you didn’t pull a muscle. After all, you work out on a daily basis.
A series of tests reveal an interesting diagnosis. It’s one you’ve never heard of. You’ve got peripheral neuropathy -- brought on by extreme cold conditions.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, peripheral neuropathy is a common condition in which the peripheral nerves that relay bodily information don’t work as they should. This can involve damage to just one nerve or nerves throughout the entire body.
While there are many types of peripheral neuropathy (more than 100 to be exact), patients are often educated about this concept through four different areas of neuropathy. This makes it easier for doctors to classify.
The first of these is called motor neuropathy. In this type of neuropathy, nerves that control bodily movement and muscles are affected. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, this can affect the movement of the hands or speech.
The second type of neuropathy is called sensory neuropathy. This affects the sensory nerves, which dictate sensation (like touch or pain). As a result, some patients may not even feel pain or other bodily sensations.