Doctor Decoded: What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Your feet and fingers have felt tingly and numb for weeks, and your doctor gives you the news: It’s peripheral neuropathy. It’s an intimidating pair of words, but basically, neuropathy refers to a loss of sensation, and peripheral refers to the peripheral nervous system.

Peripheral neuropathy has many causes, but the most common cause is diabetes. This occurs because sustained high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves over time.  (This is sometimes referred to as diabetic neuropathy.) Other causes of peripheral neuropathy include injuries and certain medications and illnesses, such as shingles and Lyme disease.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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