The source of the illness is uncertain. The medical information that I was able to review states that treatment with vitamin B sometimes has a positive effect on the progression of the illness, and if there is not extensive nerve damage the condition may clear up. There are also many different causes, ranging from heritary neuropathies to toxic ones caused by heavy metal poisoning. The peripheral nerves are those that are outside the central nervous system, running from the brain or spinal cord to our muscles, organs, skin, etc. A peripheral neuropathy may involve exclusively one type of nerve, or all three.
Some common conditions are actually neuropathies.
But when most people, and most doctors, refer to peripheral neuropathy they are talking about numbness, tingling and pain, usually in the feet and legs. Diabetes is a common cause of neuropathy, as is kidney failure. Maximum control of these underlying diseases may improve the neuropathy. There is an ancient disease, beri-beri, caused by thiamine deficiency, which causes such a neuropathy. No one eating a regular diet will develop beri-beri, and it is therefore seen in this country exclusively in alcoholics.