Common symptoms
Burning feet, pins and needles, hand numbness, sensory loss, weakness, and trouble walking.
Nerve Disorders
Peripheral neuropathy can cause burning pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and difficulty with balance.
Peripheral neuropathy is not a single diagnosis. It is a pattern of nerve injury with many possible causes, and successful treatment often starts with identifying why the nerves are being affected.
Why diagnosis matters
There are many causes of neuropathy, and some are very treatable when identified early.
Testing tools
Neurologic examination, EMG, nerve conduction studies, imaging review, and lab work when appropriate.
What patients often notice
Neuropathy symptoms can begin gradually. Some patients describe burning pain in the feet, others feel numbness, electric sensations, balance trouble, or weakness that makes stairs and long walks more difficult.
What the evaluation looks for
The goal is to determine whether the nerves are inflamed, compressed, injured by metabolic disease, affected by immune problems, or part of a broader neurologic condition. The answer guides treatment much more effectively than symptom treatment alone.
When to seek care
- Symptoms are progressing or spreading upward
- You have numbness with weakness or frequent falls
- Burning pain is interfering with sleep or daily activity
- You have diabetes, autoimmune disease, or unexplained sensory loss