Neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves do not work properly and cannot transmit information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. It involves the peripheral nervous system, which radiates out from your spinal cord and includes the autonomic nerves, which are those you cannot control (e.g., those that regulate blood pressure, digestion and heart rate).

More than 100 distinct peripheral neuropathies have been identified, each with its own set of symptoms and prognosis. For some patients, symptoms may be relatively mild and include temporary numbness, tingling and a pricking sensation. Others may have more serious symptoms, such as burning pain (especially at night), paralysis and organ or gland dysfunction.

Some neuropathies are inherited while others are acquired as a result of trauma to a nerve, tumors, autoimmune responses, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism or other conditions.

Many therapies are available to reduce peripheral neuropathy's physical and emotional effects, including improving lifestyle, nutritional counseling, weight management, and supervised exercise regimens. There are no known medical treatments for inherited peripheral neuropathy.