Polyneuritis: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Polyneuritis is characterised by damage of multiple nerves in the body. The disease is caused due to certain problems in the metabolism, infections or some injury, may also be caused on exposure to certain toxins or due to heredity. Also known as polyneuropathy, polyneuritis causes symptoms of tingling, burning or stabbing sensation especially in the limbs. The sensation may occur from the hands and feet, gradually spreading to upper arms and legs. The person with the disorders becomes extremely touch sensitive, he/she eventually loses the co-ordinating capability, affecting the gait of the person, making him/her fall down, causing weakness in the muscles and paralyse the motor nerves. Affected autonomic nerves cause bladder problems, diarrhoea and other bowel problems, intolerance to heat, abnormal sweating and affected blood pressure thereby leading to light-headedness and dizziness. Factors that are mainly held responsible for the risk of polyneuritis are excessive alcohol consumption, repetitive motion that is required in certain jobs, thyroid, liver or kidney disorders, autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, infections like hepatitis C, shingles, HIV, Epstein-Barr virus and Lyme disease, diabetes and vitamin deficiencies. Treatment for polyneuritis involves relieving the symptoms of the disorder either with medication or therapies. Medication includes topical drugs, pain killers, antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs. Therapies used to relieve the symptoms of polyneuritis are physical therapy, therapy with the help of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulin and surgery.

Medications that are used for treating polyneuritis are topical drugs in the form of creams like capsaicin cream that can be applied on the area when there is either loss of sensation or feel hot pepper like sensation, lidocaine patches on the skin, antidepressants like doxepin, amitriptyline, nortriptyline are capable of relieving pain as they interfere with the chemical reactions going on in the brain and spinal cord as well, duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR) are some other anti-depressants that help in relieving the pain that is mainly caused by diabetes, anti-seizure medications like pregabalin (Lyrica) and gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise) have been proved to be useful in treating epilepsy and nerve pain, some pain relievers like over-the-counter medications are used for relieving pain caused by the disorder, some other pain relieving medications in case over-the-counter drugs fail are opioids like oxycodone (Roxicodone, Oxycontin) and tramadol (Ultran, Conzip). To relieve the symptoms the health care provider may also suggest some therapies like physical therapy to help improve movements and the patient can also be prescribed with either a wheelchair or a walker or foot braces or a cane. IV immunoglobulin and plasma exchange therapy can also help in relieving inflammatory conditions wherein antibodies and certain proteins are removed from the blood, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy that involves placing electrodes on the skin to pass mild electric current at different frequencies. Surgery may be carried out when other procedures are not successful and thereby relieves the pressure exerted due to tumours on the nerves.

Any person who suffers the symptoms of polyneuritis like burning sensation, weakness, numbness, in the hands and foot that gradually move upwards is eligible for the treatment.

Only pain and weakness in the limbs cannot make a person eligible for the treatment.

Only pain and weakness in the limbs cannot make a person eligible for the treatment.

Post treatment guidelines for polyneuritis are regular exercise, walking, yoga, tai chi, quit smoking, avoiding alcohol consumption, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, eating healthy meals and taking care of feet in case the cause of polyneuritis is diabetes.

It may take a few weeks to more than 5 years to control the symptoms of the disorder.

The price of polyneuritis treatment in India ranges from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 4 lakh.

No the results are not permanent as the treatment options are only helpful in relieving the symptoms and not eradicating the disease completely.

Alternatives to the treatment are some lifestyles changes like avoiding alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, regular exercise, walking, jogging, keeping weight under check, yoga and tai chi.