Overview
Introduction
Peripheral neuropathy may be painful, but the more dangerous finding can be reduced sensation.
Peripheral neuropathy may be painful, but the more dangerous finding can be reduced sensation. A patient who cannot feel heat, pressure, or a small break in the skin may continue walking on an injury until it becomes an ulcer. The same nerve injury can impair balance, weaken muscles, or disturb blood pressure and other autonomic functions. For REx-PN questions, connect the pattern to the priority: distal, usually symmetric symptoms suggest length-dependent peripheral nerve damage; sudden focal deficits, rapidly progressive weakness, infection, or autonomic instability change the urgency. Assessment is not limited to asking whether the feet hurt.