A disorder of a peripheral nerve is described as neuritis. The condition is often caused by pressure. For instance, drunkard’s palsy is caused by compression of the radial nerve when a person, in a drunken stupor, hangs his arm over a chair, causing paralysis of the extensor muscles of the fingers.
The ulnar nerve, where it passes behind the elbow, may be affected, causing numbness and weakness of the little finger. In intractable cases, the treatment is to transplant the nerve to a position in front of the elbow where it will not be strained by bending the arm.
The median nerve of the arm is compressed in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition occurring mostly in women. Symptoms are tingling of the fingers at night, usually of the hand most used; the little finger may not be affected. There may be pain in the hand, and even in the elbow and shoulder. The individual usually can relieve the symptoms by swinging the arm. Medical treatment, if symptoms are troublesome and not relieved by splinting the wrists at night, is by the simple and effective operation of cutting a fibrous layer (flexor retinaculum) at the front of the wrist to decompress the nerve.
Other causes of neuritis include alcoholism, diabetes, polyarteritis nodosa and leprosy.
Polyneuritis is a simultaneous neuritis of many nerves. Symptoms are tingling, numbness and weakness of hands and feet. Diagnosis may be easy, but the discovery of the cause difficult. Causes include diabetes, polyarteritis nodosa, poisoning by heavy metals, various chemicals such as insecticides, drugs such as isoniazid used in treating tuberculosis, dietary deficiency, infection, cancer (especially of the lung), porphyria and pernicious anaemia.
Acute infective polyneuritis is a life-threatening disease often starting as an upper respiratory infection. Tingling of the extremities is followed by weakness which spreads rapidly to the proximal muscles and even to the respiratory muscles. Diagnosis is confirmed by examination of a sample of cerebrospinal fluid which shows a large increase of protein but not of cells (the Guillain-Barre syndrome). Treatment is with steroids such as prednisone, and a respirator is kept at hand.
Chronic polyneuritis may result from lack of the B group vitamin thiamine as in alcoholic neuritis. There is brain damage with giddiness and clumsiness, and mental symptoms such as loss of memory matched by recounting of imaginary experiences (confabulation), confusion and disorientation. Treatment is with thiamine in large doses.
Other forms of neuritis Lead neuritis weakens the extensor muscles of the wrist and fingers and causes wrist drop. Treatment is with calcium versanate which eliminates lead.
Diabetic neuritis causes sensory symptoms affecting the legs, which may become painful. The diabetes must be treated.
Porphyria is an uncommon metabolic disease, and as well as causing polyneuritis may cause abdominal pain and mental disturbance. Chemical tests will reveal excessive amounts of porphyrins in the urine.
Source:
Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Neuritis – Causes, Symptom, Cure, Treatment of Neuritis, www.diseasesatoz.com
