Neuropathy

How does peripheral neuropathy occur?

Typically, your nerves transfer messages and neural signals between the brain, spinal cord, and body, through patches of skin called dermatomes. If your spinal nerves are in perfect health, then the dermatomes connected to them will ensure neural messages are transmitted to the correct body parts.

But sometimes, an accident, sports injury, or an illness can injure your spinal nerves, affecting how dermatomes transmit neural messages. The injury can interrupt neural signals and cause strange sensations or pain in different parts of the body.

Tingling, burning, or cramping in the arms and legs is usually an indication of a damaged nerve and malfunctioning dermatome. The resultant condition – called peripheral neuropathy – can affect your spinal nerves’ function, and by extension, the rest of your body.