Sensory neuropathy is an umbrella term for damage to the human body's sensory nerves, the fibers that carry messages to the brain about sensations such as pain from a burn or the soft feeling of a quilt. When these nerves are injured or destroyed, you may not get vital messages from your body that are needed to protect it from further injury. Exercise can help you because it strengthens your body and may in some instances help nerves to regenerate.
Sensory Neuropathy Origins
Sensory neuropathy is a symptom in more than 100 illnesses and injuries, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's "Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet." For example, in diabetes the injured sensory nerves in your foot may cause the foot to become numb, leading to injuries that can result in amputation, because no pain alerts you to the initial injury. Other illnesses and injuries can cause your damaged sensory nerves to experience pain from stimuli that are ordinarily harmless, such as having a bed sheet placed over you.
Appropriate Exercise Program
The type of exercise program that is best for your sensory neuropathy is determined by the illness or injury that caused your neuropathy. It is important to make sure that your illness has been correctly diagnosed so that you are given an exercise program appropriate for your illness. Also, other unrelated illnesses may be misdiagnosed as sensory neuropathy, so if you have any doubt about your diagnosis, get a second opinion. Keep in mind that some forms of sensory neuropathy will not respond to exercise, but may respond to medications or other treatments. Because sensory neuropathy is a symptom of multiple medical conditions, there will never be a "one size fits all" exercise program for it. On the other hand, the presence of sensory neuropathy in many different medical conditions means that scientists in numerous fields are interested in ways to alleviate it.
Exercise Can Help
Actor Christopher Reeve's recovery of body sensations is an example of how exercise may help even in extreme cases of sensory neuropathy. As described in "Promising Progress for Christopher Reeve's Spinal Injury," a 2002 essay by Erin Hoiland of the University of Washington, Reeve lost all sensation in his body below the neck when a 1995 horse riding accident damaged his spinal cord. Reeve began a rehabilitation program that consisted of assisted cycling and swimming. Reeve regained feeling over most of his body and some limb movement. In ways that are not yet fully understood, the exercise helped some of his sensory and motor nerves to regain communication with his brain.
Find Exercise Program
The first place to look for appropriate exercises for your type of sensory neuropathy are the organizations for your particular illness or injury. For example, the American Diabetes Association offers fitness and exercise advice for diabetics. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation maintains a web-based "Sports/Recreation" message board covering wheelchair-based sports. General information and networking with other sensory neuropathy patients is available through the Neuropathy Association online "Bulletin Board," which suggests gardening as an exercise activity.
References
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet
- The Neuropathy Association: Share Your Own Gardening Tips
- Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation: Sports/Recreation
- University of Washington: Promising Progress for Christopher Reeve's Spinal Injury; Erin Hoiland; Oct. 4, 2002
- American Diabetes Association: Fitness Management
- "Levin and O'Neal's The Diabetic Foot"; Dr. John H. Bowker et al., 2007
