neuropathy

Does anyone know the differences between polyneuropathy and neuropathy? Or any of the other neuropathy? I was researching these and I am confused. They all seem to have the basic but not sure.
Thanks so much
Snowy

I think basically, "poly" means "many," so you can have a one nerve or nerve bundle thing going or a whole bunch of them (which would be the polyneuro).

I was just dx'd with painful polyneuropathy...after years of having peripheral neuropathy or diabetic neuropathy depending on which kind of dr you talk to...now with peripheral or diabetic it is usually in the lower parts of extremities...numbness and burning in hands feet or midway up leg. Polyneuropathy deals with the small nerves and makes pain more acute as your nerves misfire and misread and make it 'painful'...it can occur all over as far as i know and my neuro did a safety pin test (he bent it str8 and poked me HARD) and I didnt feel it anywhere as pain, just a finger poke type, but the small par tof my back and he said i have severe nerve damage...he is hoping cymbalta will help and i am hoping for pain relief...this is the little info that I have...hope it helps some!! ~ Melanie

Perna and mrsmoggles,
Thank so much for your help. You both were very helpful. Sometimes reading that stuff gets me confused especially when I have so much going on in my mind.

Do you know if it goes up the spine and into the brain? Someone mentioned this as polyneuropathy and eventually will be into the brain but not sure if this really happens.

Thanks for your insight.
Snowy

Your sense of touch is your nerves. Everything is your nerves talking to your brain. Your brain tells your muscles what to do and your nerves tell your brain what's going on. That's why Mrs. Moggles couldn't feel anything when the doctor stuck her with a pin, her nerves are damaged all over.

Peripheral neuropathy is hands and feet, your peripheral (on the "outside"/farthest away from the center) body parts. It often is a result of diabetes as Mrs. Moggles says/has.

Autonomic neuropathy involves all the unconsious parts of your body that does stuff without you knowing and damage to those systems can cause trouble like this:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aut...544/DSECTION=2

I found this:

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Though the terms neuropathy and polyneuropathy are often used interchangeably, polyneuropathy is more specific subset of neuropathy that implies a systemic process causing damage to multiple peripheral nerves.

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From: http://www.dejerine-sottas.com/about/glossary.php

and this:

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Polyneuropathy is a neurological disorder that occurs when many peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously. It may be acute and appear without warning, or chronic and develop gradually over a longer period of time. ...

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From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyneuropathy

I think polyneuropathy often occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your nerves like with this disease:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chr...opathy/AN00288