Autonomic Neuropathy The Nerve Damage You Have No Control Over

Today's post from dressamed.com (see link below) talks about autonomic neuropathy, which may be a new term to many people. Basically, it's a form of neuropathy that affects the involuntary functions of the body, breathing, digestion, excretion, sweating, sexual function, etc. You have no control over these functions and when they go wrong thanks to nerve damage, the consequences can make life pretty miserable. Most people begin their neuropathy lives with the well-known symptoms of numbness, tingling, burning etc in the feet and/or hands and for some it stays that way but for others, the damage spreads to the autonomic functions and you begin to notice things going wrong. Your doctor will inevitably try to rule out all other other possible reasons why this is happening and it may be years before you get a proper diagnosis of autonomic neuropathy. The treatment for your pain will remain the same but you may find your medicine chest being expanded to include treatments for dysfunctions elsewhere in your body. I'm sorry, there's no sugar-coated pill to this story: if you have autonomic neuropathy it sucks but there are always ways to improve your situation but you need to take time to research and explore your options. Working with your doctor and not waiting for him or her to provide answers, is the key.

When Autonomic Neuropathy Affects Bodily Functions 
Posted on May 11, 2016 Posted in Staff Pick by Staff Pick

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? 
 
Dizziness and fainting when you stand up
Difficulty digesting food and feeling really full when you’ve barely eaten anything
Abnormal perspiration – either sweating excessively or barely at all
Intolerance for exercise – no, not that you just hate it but your heart rate doesn’t adjust as it should
Slow pupil reaction so that your eyes don’t adjust quickly to changes in light
Urinary problems like difficulty starting or inability to completely empty your bladder

If they do, you could have autonomic neuropathy. Especially if you have diabetes, your immune system is compromised by chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, lupus, Guillian-Barre or any other chronic medical condition.

You need to see a doctor immediately. A good place to start would be a physician well versed in diagnosing and treating nerve disease and damage, like your local clinician who specializes in our treatment protocol.
What Is Autonomic Neuropathy?

Autonomic neuropathy in itself is not a disease. It’s a type of peripheral neuropathy that affects the nerves that control involuntary body functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and perspiration. The nerves are damaged and don’t function properly leading to a break down of the signals between the brain and the parts of the body affected by the autonomic nervous system like the heart, blood vessels, digestive system and sweat glands.

That can lead to your body being unable to regulate your heart rate or your blood pressure, an inability to properly digest your food, urinary problems, even being unable to sweat in order to cool your body down when you exercise.

Often, autonomic neuropathy is caused by other diseases or medical conditions so if you suffer from: 

Diabetes
Alcoholism
Cancer
Systemic lupus
Parkinson’s disease
HIV/AIDS

Or any number of other chronic illnesses, you stand a much higher risk of developing autonomic neuropathy. Your best course of action is not to wait until you develop symptoms. Begin a course of preventative treatment and monitoring with a clinician to lessen your chances of developing autonomic neuropathy.

How Will The Clinician Diagnose My Autonomic Neuropathy?

If you have diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDs or any of the other diseases or chronic conditions that can cause autonomic neuropathy, it’s much easier to diagnose autonomic neuropathy. After all, as a specialist in nerve damage and treatment, your clinician is very familiar with your symptoms and the best course of treatment.

If you have symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and don’t have any of the underlying conditions, your diagnosis will be a little tougher but not impossible.

Either way, your clinician will take a very thorough history and physical. Make sure you have a list of all your symptoms, when they began, how severe they are, what helps your symptoms or makes them worse, and any and all medications your currently take (including over the counter medications, herbal supplements or vitamins).

Be honest with your clinician about your diet, alcohol intake, frequency of exercise, history of drug use and smoking. If you don’t tell the truth, you’re not giving your clinician a clear picture of your physical condition. That’s like asking him to drive you from Montreal to Mexico City without a map or a GPS. You may eventually get to where you want to be, but it’s highly unlikely.

Once your history and physical are completed, your clinician will order some tests. Depending upon your actual symptoms and which systems seem to be affected, these tests might include:
Ultrasound
Urinalysis and bladder function tests
Thermoregulatory and/or QSART sweat tests
Gastrointestinal tests
Breathing tests
Tilt-table tests (to test your heart rate and blood pressure regulation). Once your tests are completed and your clinician determines you have autonomic neuropathy, it’s time for treatment. 

Treatment and Prognosis

Our clinicians are well versed in treating all types of peripheral neuropathy, including autonomic neuropathy. They adhere to a very specialized treatment protocol that was developed specifically for patients suffering from neuropathy. That’s why their treatments have been so successful – neuropathy in all its forms is what they do.

Autonomic neuropathy is a chronic condition but it can be treated and you can do things to help relieve your symptoms.

Your clinician will work with you and your other physicians to treat your neuropathy and manage your underlying condition. They do this through:

Diet Planning and Nutritional Support
You need to give your body the nutrition it needs to heal.

If you have gastrointestinal issues caused by autonomic neuropathy, you need to make sure you’re getting enough fiber and fluids to help your body function properly.

If you have diabetes, you need to follow a diet specifically designed for diabetics and to control your blood sugar.
If your autonomic neuropathy affects your urinary system, you need to retrain your bladder. You can do this by following a schedule of when to drink and when to empty your bladder to slowly increase your bladder’s capacity.

Individually Designed Exercise Programs
If you experience exercise intolerance or blood pressure problems resulting from autonomic neuropathy, you have to be every careful with your exercise program. Make sure that you don’t overexert yourself, take it slowly. Your clinician can design an exercise program specifically for you that will allow you to exercise but won’t push you beyond what your body is capable of. And, even more importantly, they will continually monitor your progress and adjust your program as needed.

Lifestyle Modifications
If your autonomic neuropathy causes dizziness when you stand up, then do it slowly and in stages. Flex your feet or grip your hands several times before you attempt to stand to increase the flow of blood to your hands and feet. Try just sitting on the side of your bed in the morning for a few minutes before you try to stand.
Change the amount and frequency of your meals if you have digestive problems.

Don’t try to do everything all at once. Decide what really needs to be done each day and do what you can. Autonomic neuropathy is a chronic disorder and living with any chronic condition requires adaptations. Your clinician knows this all too well and will work with you to manage your level of stress and change your daily routines to help you manage your condition and your life.

All of these changes in conjunction with medications, where needed, will make it easier to live with autonomic neuropathy and lessen the chances of serious complications. Early intervention with a NeuropathyDR® clinician is still the best policy if you have any of the underlying conditions that can cause autonomic neuropathy. But if you already have symptoms, start treatment immediately.

About The Author

Dr. John Hayes, Jr. is an Evvy Award Nominee and author of “Living and Practicing by Design” and “Beating Neuropathy-Taking Misery to Miracles in Just 5 Weeks!”. His work on peripheral neuropathy has expanded the specialty of effective neuropathy treatments to physicians, physical therapists and nurses. A free Ebook, CD and information packet on his unique services and trainings can be obtained by registering your information at neuropathydr.com. To book interviews and speaking engagements call 781-754-0599.

Syndicated by EzineArticles

https://www.dressamed.com/root/autonomic-neuropathy/

Autonomic Neuropathy The Neuropathic Sniper That You Dont See Coming

Today's post from dressamed.com (see link below) is a no-nonsense and easy to understand article about autonomic neuropathy. For those of you who don't already know, this is nerve damage that affects many of the 'involuntary' actions that we take for granted in our daily lives, such as breathing, digestion, sexual response, blood pressure and many more. The problem with autonomic neuropathy is that it creeps up on you over a period of time and can seriously affect the quality of your life. If you're worried you may be heading in this direction, or already know what's happening, read the article, talk to your doctor and do as much of your own research as possible. By using the search button to the right of this blog, you will find many more articles about autonomic neuropathy and how best to learn to live with it and treat its symptoms.

When Neuropathy Affects Bodily Functions 
Posted on May 11, 2016 Posted in Staff Pick by Staff Pick

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?

Dizziness and fainting when you stand up
Difficulty digesting food and feeling really full when you’ve barely eaten anything
Abnormal perspiration – either sweating excessively or barely at all
Intolerance for exercise – no, not that you just hate it but your heart rate doesn’t adjust as it should
Slow pupil reaction so that your eyes don’t adjust quickly to changes in light
Urinary problems like difficulty starting or inability to completely empty your bladder

If they do, you could have autonomic neuropathy. Especially if you have diabetes, your immune system is compromised by chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, lupus, Guillian-Barre or any other chronic medical condition.

You need to see a doctor immediately. A good place to start would be a physician well versed in diagnosing and treating nerve disease and damage, like your local clinician who specializes in our treatment protocol.

What Is Autonomic Neuropathy?

Autonomic neuropathy in itself is not a disease. It’s a type of peripheral neuropathy that affects the nerves that control involuntary body functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and perspiration. The nerves are damaged and don’t function properly leading to a break down of the signals between the brain and the parts of the body affected by the autonomic nervous system like the heart, blood vessels, digestive system and sweat glands.

That can lead to your body being unable to regulate your heart rate or your blood pressure, an inability to properly digest your food, urinary problems, even being unable to sweat in order to cool your body down when you exercise.

Often, autonomic neuropathy is caused by other diseases or medical conditions so if you suffer from:

Diabetes
Alcoholism
Cancer
Systemic lupus
Parkinson’s disease
HIV/AIDS

Or any number of other chronic illnesses, you stand a much higher risk of developing autonomic neuropathy. Your best course of action is not to wait until you develop symptoms. Begin a course of preventative treatment and monitoring with a clinician to lessen your chances of developing autonomic neuropathy.

How Will The Clinician Diagnose My Autonomic Neuropathy?

If you have diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDs or any of the other diseases or chronic conditions that can cause autonomic neuropathy, it’s much easier to diagnose autonomic neuropathy. After all, as a specialist in nerve damage and treatment, your clinician is very familiar with your symptoms and the best course of treatment.

If you have symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and don’t have any of the underlying conditions, your diagnosis will be a little tougher but not impossible.

Either way, your clinician will take a very thorough history and physical. Make sure you have a list of all your symptoms, when they began, how severe they are, what helps your symptoms or makes them worse, and any and all medications your currently take (including over the counter medications, herbal supplements or vitamins).

Be honest with your clinician about your diet, alcohol intake, frequency of exercise, history of drug use and smoking. If you don’t tell the truth, you’re not giving your clinician a clear picture of your physical condition. That’s like asking him to drive you from Montreal to Mexico City without a map or a GPS. You may eventually get to where you want to be, but it’s highly unlikely.

Once your history and physical are completed, your clinician will order some tests. Depending upon your actual symptoms and which systems seem to be affected, these tests might include: 

Ultrasound
Urinalysis and bladder function tests
Thermoregulatory and/or QSART sweat tests
Gastrointestinal tests
Breathing tests
Tilt-table tests (to test your heart rate and blood pressure regulation). Once your tests are completed and your clinician determines you have autonomic neuropathy, it’s time for treatment. 

Treatment and Prognosis

Our clinicians are well versed in treating all types of peripheral neuropathy, including autonomic neuropathy. They adhere to a very specialized treatment protocol that was developed specifically for patients suffering from neuropathy. That’s why their treatments have been so successful – neuropathy in all its forms is what they do.

Autonomic neuropathy is a chronic condition but it can be treated and you can do things to help relieve your symptoms.

Your clinician will work with you and your other physicians to treat your neuropathy and manage your underlying condition. They do this through:

Diet Planning and Nutritional Support

You need to give your body the nutrition it needs to heal.

If you have gastrointestinal issues caused by autonomic neuropathy, you need to make sure you’re getting enough fiber and fluids to help your body function properly.

If you have diabetes, you need to follow a diet specifically designed for diabetics and to control your blood sugar.

If your autonomic neuropathy affects your urinary system, you need to retrain your bladder. You can do this by following a schedule of when to drink and when to empty your bladder to slowly increase your bladder’s capacity.

Individually Designed Exercise Programs

If you experience exercise intolerance or blood pressure problems resulting from autonomic neuropathy, you have to be every careful with your exercise program. Make sure that you don’t overexert yourself, take it slowly. Your clinician can design an exercise program specifically for you that will allow you to exercise but won’t push you beyond what your body is capable of. And, even more importantly, they will continually monitor your progress and adjust your program as needed.

Lifestyle Modifications

If your autonomic neuropathy causes dizziness when you stand up, then do it slowly and in stages. Flex your feet or grip your hands several times before you attempt to stand to increase the flow of blood to your hands and feet. Try just sitting on the side of your bed in the morning for a few minutes before you try to stand.

Change the amount and frequency of your meals if you have digestive problems.

Don’t try to do everything all at once. Decide what really needs to be done each day and do what you can. Autonomic neuropathy is a chronic disorder and living with any chronic condition requires adaptations. Your clinician knows this all too well and will work with you to manage your level of stress and change your daily routines to help you manage your condition and your life.

All of these changes in conjunction with medications, where needed, will make it easier to live with autonomic neuropathy and lessen the chances of serious complications. Early intervention with a NeuropathyDR® clinician is still the best policy if you have any of the underlying conditions that can cause autonomic neuropathy. But if you already have symptoms, start treatment immediately.

About The Author

Dr. John Hayes, Jr. is an Evvy Award Nominee and author of “Living and Practicing by Design” and “Beating Neuropathy-Taking Misery to Miracles in Just 5 Weeks!”. His work on peripheral neuropathy has expanded the specialty of effective neuropathy treatments to physicians, physical therapists and nurses. A free Ebook, CD and information packet on his unique services and trainings can be obtained by registering your information at neuropathydr.com. 

Syndicated by EzineArticles

https://www.dressamed.com/root/when-neuropathy-affects-bodily-functions/

Personal Story Of How Autonomic Neuropathy Can Strike

Today's post from masslive.com (see link below) has no personal link to HIV but shows how devastating a random virus can be when it attacks the nervous system. The case in point here, contracted an unidentified virus which caused her autonomic nervous system (all those involuntary functions we take for granted, like digestion, breathing, blood pressure etc) to fail on several fronts. The general term for this sort of nerve damage is dysautonomia. It sounds like a disease in itself but is actually an umbrella term for this sort of condition, in the same way that neuropathy is a general term for nerve damage.This story shows how alarming it can be, especially when there's no way of knowing how far the disease will progress and what the prognosis will be.

Monson Mom raises awareness of autonomic nervous system disorder
By Kathryn Roy | Special to The Republican on July 16, 2014

Emily Hespeth, a 16-year-old Monson resident, contracted a virus that has caused her autonomic nervous system to malfunction, and interferes with ability to eat.

MONSON -- Sixteen-year-old Emily Hedspeth was a healthy girl, just starting her sophomore year at Monson High School, when she began to show symptoms of an infection. That infection, which hit in September 2012, later resulted in a diagnosis of dysautonomia, an umbrella term for conditions that cause the body's autonomic nervous system to malfunction. The system controls such functions as heart rate, blood pressure and digestion.

Today, Hedspeth needs a feeding tube and struggles with various health problems. Her mother, Mary Hedspeth, is working to raise awareness about dysautonomia,.and its various forms. Emily suffers from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which causes an abnormal heart rate upon standing. There is currently no known cure for dysautonomia.

Hedspeth said doctors were baffled initially because it all started with what appeared to be an everyday virus.

“She had a fever, body aches, a headache, nausea, a sore throat, and she was very lethargic,” Hedspeth said.

More common ailments such as mononucleosis were ruled out. Although doctors never determined specifically which virus Emily contracted, they later determined that it had damaged her autonomic nervous system, her mother said.

“As a consequence of this, Emily also has gastroparesis, in which the nerves in charge of the stomach don’t work,” Hedspeth said. “She has a hard time eating and even maintaining her weight.”

Emily has a feeding tube coming out of one nostril, and she has had a temporary gastric stimulator out of the other nostril. She traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to have a permanent gastric stimulator put in in late June by the doctor who invented the device, to help her stomach function properly. Hedspeth compares it to a cardiac pacemaker, but for the stomach. It's too early to tell how the device will impact her quality of life.

But Hedspeth said Emily has suffered for a long time.

“Whatever she eats, she gets nauseous,” Hedspeth said. “She takes two bites of something and she’s full. She has terrible bloating. Sometimes her belly is so just so bloated, she looks pregnant.”

Hedspeth said her daughter has seen numerous doctors.

“Plenty of them thought she was anorexic,” she said. “Sometimes the doctors don’t listen to you, but I didn’t give up till somebody did.”

POTS causes Emily’s heart rate to change rapidly.

“Lying down, it’s 50 (beats per minute),” Hedspeth said. “When she sits up, it’s 80, and when she stands it’s between 120 and 130. She gets very dizzy and she almost passes out.”

Emily’s condition has forced her to miss out on school and other activities. She attempted to attend two classes at school this year.

“She had to go for Spanish,” her mother said. “She tried to do Spanish and English. She made it to Spanish, but every day is a battle for the poor kid.”

Emily is currently being treated by physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, who are involved in a dysautonomia research study. She said researchers at Vanderbilt University are also studying the condition, and recently discovered that those affected by it have an unique aspect to their blood.

“Dysautonomia International (an advocacy group) is trying to raise awareness and money to help fund the next part of the research, so they can come up with a blood test which could be run by any pediatrician in the country,” Hedspeth said. “A lot of doctors don’t even know what (dysautonomia) is.”

Hedspeth said for now, it’s all about managing Emily’s symptoms. It’s not clear what the long-term prognosis is.

“They don’t really know how bad it’s going to get,” she said. “I don’t really want to think about it.”

For more information on dysautonomia, visit http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org./welcome.php

http://www.masslive.com/living/index.ssf/2014/07/monson_mom_raises_awareness_of_autonomic_nervous_system_disorder.html#incart_pop_thishour

How To Recognise Autonomic Neuropathy

Today's post from nlm.nih.gov (see link below) the site of Medline Plus, gives an overview of a form of neuropathy that is troubling more and more people; either because it is becoming more common, or because it is being better diagnosed. It's the nightmare for all living with nerve damage, when the functions you take for granted also begin to go awry and the psychological ramifications are often underestimated, both by patient and doctor. Basically autonomic neuropathy is a collective term for the symptoms caused when the involuntary functions of the body you take for granted your whole lives, start letting you down. Reading this article will give you a good idea of what I mean. It's very important that if you notice this sort of thing happening, you contact your doctor and possibly get referred to a neurologist because each symptom/problem may need to be dealt with apart from the others. Unfortunately, at the moment, there's little that can be done to address the neuropathy itself but the symptoms may be relieved by medications and adapting your lifestyle and daily habits.

Autonomic neuropathy
Medline Plus (last updated Jan 2015)
 
Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms that occur when there is damage to the nerves that manage every day body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion.
Causes

Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms, not a specific disease. There are many causes.

Autonomic neuropathy involves damage to the nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord to the heart, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, pupils, and blood vessels.

Autonomic neuropathy may be seen with:
Alcohol abuse
Diabetes (diabetic neuropathy)
Disorders involving scarring of tissues around the nerves
Guillain Barre syndrome or other diseases that inflame nerves
HIV and AIDS
Inherited nerve disorders
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson's disease
Spinal cord injury
Surgery or injury involving the nerves
Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the nerves affected. They usually develop gradually over years. Symptoms may include:

Stomach and intestines
Constipation (hard stools)
Diarrhea (loose stools)
Feeling full after only a few bites (early satiety)
Nausea after eating
Problems controlling bowel movements
Swallowing problems
Swollen abdomen
Vomiting of undigested food

Heart and lungs
Abnormal heart rate or rhythm
Blood pressure changes with position and causes dizziness when standing
High blood pressure
Shortness of breath with activity or exercise

Bladder
Difficulty beginning to urinate
Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
Leaking urine

Other
Sweating too much or not enough
Heat intolerance brought on with activity and exercise
Sexual problems including erection problems in men and vaginal dryness and orgasm difficulties in women
Small pupil in one eye
Weight loss without trying

Exams and Tests

Signs of autonomic nerve damage are not always seen when yourdoctor or nurse examines you. Your blood pressure or heart rate may change when lying down, sitting, and standing.

Special tests to measure sweating and heart rate may be done. This is called "autonomic testing."

Other tests depend on what type of symptoms you have.
Treatment

Treatment to reverse nerve damage is most often not possible. As a result, treatment and self-care are focused on managing your symptoms and preventing further problems.

Your doctor or nurse may recommend:
Extra salt in the diet or taking salt tablets to increase fluid volume in blood vessels
Fludrocortisone or similar medications to help your body retain salt and fluid
Medicines to treat irregular heart rhythms
Pacemaker
Sleeping with the head raised
Wearing elastic stockings

The following may help your intestines and stomach work better:
Daily bowel care program
Medications that increase gastric motility (such as Reglan)
Sleeping with the head raised
Small, frequent meals

Medicines and self-care programs can help you if you have:
Urinary incontinence
Neurogenic bladder
Erection problems
Outlook (Prognosis)

How well you do depends on the cause of the problem and if it can be treated. 

Possible Complications
Fluid or electrolyte imbalance such as low blood potassium (if excessive vomiting or diarrhea)
Injuries from falls (with postural dizziness)
Kidney failure (from urine backup)
Malnutrition
Psychological/social effects of impotence

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of autonomic neuropathy. Early symptoms might include:
Becoming faint or lightheaded when standing
Changes in bowel, bladder, or sexual function
Unexplained nausea and vomiting when eating

Early diagnosis and treatment increases the likelihood of controlling symptoms.

Autonomic neuropathy may hide the warning signs of a heart attack. They are sudden fatigue, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting.
Prevention

Preventing or controlling disorders associated with autonomic neuropathy may reduce the risk. For example, people with diabetes should closely control blood sugar levels.
Alternative Names

Neuropathy - autonomic; Autonomic nerve disease

References

Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 446.

Benarroch E, Freeman R, Kaufman H. Autonomic nervous system. In: Goetz CG, eds. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 21.

Chelimsky T, Robertson D, Chelimsky G. Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System. In: Daroff: Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia,Pa; Elsevier; 2012: chap 77.
Update Date: 10/3/2012

Updated by: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.

 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000776.htm

Autonomic Neuropathy a diagnosis

Today's post is a medical e-zine article (see link below) about Autonomic Neuropathy written by Dr. John Hayes, who has an expanded medical practice and writes books and articles which he promotes on his own websites. These won't be promoted here because they're commercial but can be found by checking out the link to the original document below. That said, the article is very useful in describing what autonomic neuropathy entails and how it can be treated (other posts about this form of neuropathy can be found by checking the alphabetical list to the right of the blog).

When Neuropathy Affects Bodily Functions
By John Hayes Jr

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?

•Dizziness and fainting when you stand up
•Difficulty digesting food and feeling really full when you've barely eaten anything
•Abnormal perspiration - either sweating excessively or barely at all
•Intolerance for exercise - no, not that you just hate it but your heart rate doesn't adjust as it should
•Slow pupil reaction so that your eyes don't adjust quickly to changes in light
•Urinary problems like difficulty starting or inability to completely empty your bladder

If they do, you could have autonomic neuropathy. Especially if you have diabetes, your immune system is compromised by chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, lupus, Guillian-Barre or any other chronic medical condition.

You need to see a doctor immediately. A good place to start would be a physician well versed in diagnosing and treating nerve disease and damage, like your local clinician who specializes in our treatment protocol.

What Is Autonomic Neuropathy?

Autonomic neuropathy in itself is not a disease. It's a type of peripheral neuropathy that affects the nerves that control involuntary body functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and perspiration. The nerves are damaged and don't function properly leading to a break down of the signals between the brain and the parts of the body affected by the autonomic nervous system like the heart, blood vessels, digestive system and sweat glands.

That can lead to your body being unable to regulate your heart rate or your blood pressure, an inability to properly digest your food, urinary problems, even being unable to sweat in order to cool your body down when you exercise.

Often, autonomic neuropathy is caused by other diseases or medical conditions so if you suffer from

•Diabetes
•Alcoholism
•Cancer
•Systemic lupus
•Parkinson's disease
•HIV/AIDS

Or any number of other chronic illnesses, you stand a much higher risk of developing autonomic neuropathy. Your best course of action is not to wait until you develop symptoms. Begin a course of preventative treatment and monitoring with a clinician to lessen your chances of developing autonomic neuropathy.

How Will The Clinician Diagnose My Autonomic Neuropathy?

If you have diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDs or any of the other diseases or chronic conditions that can cause autonomic neuropathy, it's much easier to diagnose autonomic neuropathy. After all, as a specialist in nerve damage and treatment, your clinician is very familiar with your symptoms and the best course of treatment.

If you have symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and don't have any of the underlying conditions, your diagnosis will be a little tougher but not impossible.

Either way, your clinician will take a very thorough history and physical. Make sure you have a list of all your symptoms, when they began, how severe they are, what helps your symptoms or makes them worse, and any and all medications your currently take (including over the counter medications, herbal supplements or vitamins).

Be honest with your clinician about your diet, alcohol intake, frequency of exercise, history of drug use and smoking. If you don't tell the truth, you're not giving your clinician a clear picture of your physical condition. That's like asking him to drive you from Montreal to Mexico City without a map or a GPS. You may eventually get to where you want to be, but it's highly unlikely.

Once your history and physical are completed, your clinician will order some tests. Depending upon your actual symptoms and which systems seem to be affected, these tests might include:

•Ultrasound
•Urinalysis and bladder function tests
•Thermoregulatory and/or QSART sweat tests
•Gastrointestinal tests
•Breathing tests
•Tilt-table tests (to test your heart rate and blood pressure regulation)

Once your tests are completed and your clinician determines you have autonomic neuropathy, it's time for treatment.

Treatment and Prognosis

Our clinicians are well versed in treating all types of peripheral neuropathy, including autonomic neuropathy. They adhere to a very specialized treatment protocol that was developed specifically for patients suffering from neuropathy. That's why their treatments have been so successful - neuropathy in all its forms is what they do.

Autonomic neuropathy is a chronic condition but it can be treated and you can do things to help relieve your symptoms.

Your clinician will work with you and your other physicians to treat your neuropathy and manage your underlying condition. They do this through:


•Diet Planning and Nutritional Support

You need to give your body the nutrition it needs to heal.

If you have gastrointestinal issues caused by autonomic neuropathy, you need to make sure you're getting enough fiber and fluids to help your body function properly.

If you have diabetes, you need to follow a diet specifically designed for diabetics and to control your blood sugar.
If your autonomic neuropathy affects your urinary system, you need to retrain your bladder. You can do this by following a schedule of when to drink and when to empty your bladder to slowly increase your bladder's capacity.

•Individually Designed Exercise Programs

If you experience exercise intolerance or blood pressure problems resulting from autonomic neuropathy, you have to be every careful with your exercise program. Make sure that you don't overexert yourself, take it slowly. Your clinician can design an exercise program specifically for you that will allow you to exercise but won't push you beyond what your body is capable of. And, even more importantly, they will continually monitor your progress and adjust your program as needed.

•Lifestyle Modifications

If your autonomic neuropathy causes dizziness when you stand up, then do it slowly and in stages. Flex your feet or grip your hands several times before you attempt to stand to increase the flow of blood to your hands and feet. Try just sitting on the side of your bed in the morning for a few minutes before you try to stand.
Change the amount and frequency of your meals if you have digestive problems.

Don't try to do everything all at once. Decide what really needs to be done each day and do what you can. Autonomic neuropathy is a chronic disorder and living with any chronic condition requires adaptations. Your clinician knows this all too well and will work with you to manage your level of stress and change your daily routines to help you manage your condition and your life.

All of these changes in conjunction with medications, where needed, will make it easier to live with autonomic neuropathy and lessen the chances of serious complications. Early intervention with a NeuropathyDR® clinician is still the best policy if you have any of the underlying conditions that can cause autonomic neuropathy. But if you already have symptoms, start treatment immediately.

With 25 years of Private Practice of successful multidisciplinary Healthcare with a focus on integrated case management, Dr Hayes has an extensive clinically balanced background, and still works actively with many MDs, DMDs, DPMs PTs DCs PAs RNs, and others whose sole purpose is to deliver excellence in patient care. Dr. Hayes takes the time to understand the problems and lifestyle of the patients we serve, and expects the same clinical excellence of his clients...

http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Hayes_Jr

Autonomic Dysfunction Problems With Neuropathy

Today's post from healthline.com (see link below) is especially helpful for those neuropathy patients who have been diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy but aren't quite sure what that is and what's going on inside their bodies. It takes a good look at the whole autonomic system; how it works and how it can go wrong. It may raise more questions than answers and may require a certain amount of Googling to explain medical terms but it's worth the effort.

Autonomic Dysfunction
Written by Christine Case-Lo
Medically Reviewed on May 21, 2013 by George Krucik, MD, MBA

Overview

Your autonomic nervous system is made up of nerves that control those “automatic” things you need to do to survive. A few of those necessary things include blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, and digestion of your food. Autonomic dysfunction or dysautonomia refers to problems with this autonomic nervous system.

What Is Autonomic Dysfunction?

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls several basic bodily functions. These include heart rate, body temperature, breathing rate, digestion, and many other systems as well. You don’t have to consciously think about these systems in order for them to work. The ANS provides the connection between your brain and your internal organs. For instance, it connects to the heart, liver, sweat glands, and even the interior muscles of your eye.

The ANS is made up of two subsystems: the sympathetic autonomic nervous system (SANS) and the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system (PANS). Most organs have nerves from both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

The SANS usually stimulates organs. For instance, it increases heart rate and blood pressure when necessary. The PANS, on the other hand usually slows down bodily processes. For example, it reduces heart rate and blood pressure. There are certainly exceptions. Digestion and urination, for instance are stimulated by the PANS and slowed by the SANS.

The general responsibility of the SANS is to trigger emergency responses when required. These “fight or flight” responses get you ready to respond to stressful situations. The PANS, on the other hand, conserves your energy and restores tissues for ordinary functions.

Problems with the ANS can range from mild to life threatening. Sometimes only one part of the nervous system is affected. In other cases, the entire ANS is affected. Some conditions are temporary and can be reversed, while others are chronic and will continue to worsen over time. Diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson’s disease can cause irregularities with the ANS. Problems with ANS regulation often involve organ failure, or the failure of the nerves to transmit a necessary signal.

Symptoms of Autonomic Dysfunction

Effects of autonomic dysfunction can include just a small part of the ANS, or the entire ANS. Some symptoms that may indicate the presence of an autonomic nerve disorder include:

dizziness and fainting upon standing up (orthostatic hypotension)
inability to alter heart rate with exercise (exercise intolerance)
sweating abnormalities, which could alternately be too much sweat or insufficient sweat
digestion difficulties due to slow digestion. Resulting symptoms could include loss of appetite, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, and difficulty swallowing.
urinary problems. These can include difficulty starting urination, incontinence, and incomplete emptying of the bladder
sexual problems. In men, this could be difficulty with ejaculation and/or maintaining an erection. In women, this could be vaginal dryness and/or difficulty with orgasm
vision problems. This could be blurry vision, or the failure of the pupils to react quickly enough to changes in light.

Any or all of these symptoms may be present, and effects may be mild to severe.

Orthostatic hypotension or orthostatic intolerance (a milder form of orthostatic hypotension) are two of the most common conditions resulting from ANS disorders. Orthostatic intolerance, which results in low blood pressure on standing, causes alarming symptoms. These include lightheadedness, fainting, and heart palpitations.

Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms, such as tremor and muscle weakness, may also result from certain forms of autonomic dysfunction.

Autonomic Dysfunction Conditions

Certain types of autonomic dysfunction can be very sudden and severe, yet also reversible. Guillain-Barre syndrome is an autoimmune disease affecting nerves of the ANS. It has a rapid onset of symptoms, including muscle weakness, tingling, and paralysis. However, most functions affected by this condition can be regained over time.

Primary forms of dysautonomia are conditions that can result in general autonomic failure. The systems associated with the ANS nerves no longer work effectively when general autonomic failure occurs. Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive deterioration of the ANS. MSA affects all ANS-associated functions and causes orthostatic hypotension and Parkinson’s-like symptoms. Onset is usually in adults over 50.

Other primary forms of dysautonomia include:

hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSAN). This is a group of related genetic disorders that cause widespread nerve dysfunction in children and young adults. Familial dysautonomia is in this group of diseases.
autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy. This is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks a particular set of ANS nerve cells.
Holmes-Adie syndrome. This condition mostly affects the nerves controlling the muscles of the eye, causing vision problems.
neutrally mediated syncope. This affects regulation of heart rate and blood pressure, causing episodes of fainting.

Other dysautonomias can result from disease or damage to the body. Autonomic neuropathy refers to damage to nerves from certain medications, injury, or disease. Diseases causing this neuropathy include bacterial infections, alcoholism, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Parkinson’s disease causes orthostatic hypotension and other ANS failure symptoms.

Treatment of Autonomic Dysfunction

Autonomic dysfunction is treated by addressing the symptoms of whatever form of dysfunction you are experiencing. Orthostatic hypotension, for instance, can be treated with lifestyle changes and medication. Symptoms can respond to elevating the head of the bed you sleep in, drinking enough fluids, and compression stockings to prevent blood pooling in your legs. Medications like midodrine are also used for treating autonomic dysfunction.

Treating underlying conditions like alcoholism, diabetes, or Parkinson’s may help alleviate the progression of ANS dysfunction. Damage is difficult to cure. More severe symptoms may be addressed with the help of physical therapy. Walking aides, feeding tubes, and other methods may be used for bypassing damaged internal systems.

Prognosis for Autonomic Dysfunction

Damage to the nerves of the autonomic system is often not reversible. Some illnesses like Guillain-Barre may see significant recovery. Orthostatic hypotension responds to treatment, but there is an increased risk of stroke due to the sudden blood pressure changes. More general and severe conditions, such as multiple system atrophy, might have a life expectancy of six to ten years (Mayo Clinic, 2011).

http://www.healthline.com/health/autonomic-dysfunction

Treatments For Autonomic Neuropathy

Today's post from mayoclinic.org (see link below) is the second of two posts from the Mayo Clinic regarding that most mysterious, yet very common form of neuropathy: Autonomic neuropathy - (see yesterday's post) Autonomic means affecting parts of your body that are out of your control and behave instinctively and automatically. We take them for granted but if the nerves in these areas are damaged then the consequences can be serious and lead of a dramatic drop in the quality of life. Having established that the problem is autonomic neuropathy, there are various possible treatment options but remember, neuropathy symptoms can be treated to a certain extent but neuropathy can't be cured (at the moment). Nevertheless, reducing the effects of neuropathy can significantly improve quality of life - it's a question of finding what works for you.

Autonomic neuropathy: Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic Staff June 2015

Treatment of autonomic neuropathy includes:
Treating the underlying disease. The first goal of treating autonomic neuropathy is to manage the disease or condition damaging your nerves. For example, if the underlying cause is diabetes, you'll need to tightly control blood sugar to prevent autonomic neuropathy from progressing.
Managing specific symptoms. Some treatments can relieve the symptoms of autonomic neuropathy. Treatment is based on what part of your body is most affected by nerve damage. 

Digestive (gastrointestinal) symptoms

Your doctor may recommend:
Modifying your diet. You may need to increase dietary fiber and fluids. Fiber supplements, such as Metamucil or Citrucel, also may help. Slowly increase fiber to avoid gas and bloating.
Medication to help your stomach empty. A prescription drug called metoclopramide (Reglan) helps your stomach empty faster by increasing the contractions of the digestive tract. This medication may cause drowsiness, and its effectiveness wears off over time.
Medications to ease constipation. Over-the-counter laxatives may help ease constipation. Ask your doctor how often you should use these medications. Increasing dietary fiber also may help relieve constipation.
Medications to ease diarrhea. Antibiotics can help treat diarrhea by preventing excess bacterial growth in the intestines. Medications usually used to treat high blood pressure and cholesterol may also be prescribed for managing diarrhea.
Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as imipramine (Tofranil), can help treat nerve-related abdominal pain. Dry mouth and urine retention are possible side effects of these medications.

Urinary symptoms

Your doctor may suggest:
Retraining your bladder. Following a schedule of when to drink fluids and when to urinate can help increase your bladder's capacity and retrain your bladder to empty completely at the appropriate times.
Medication to help empty the bladder. Bethanechol is a medication that helps ensure complete emptying of the bladder. Possible side effects include headache, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea and flushing.
Urinary assistance (catheterization). During this procedure, a tube is guided through your urethra to empty your bladder.
Medications that decrease overactive bladder. These include tolterodine (Detrol) or oxybutynin (Ditropan XL). Possible side effects include dry mouth, headache, fatigue, constipation and abdominal pain.

Sexual dysfunction

For men with erectile dysfunction, your doctor may recommend:

Medications that enable erections. Drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) or tadalafil (Cialis) can help you achieve and maintain an erection. Possible side effects include mild headache, flushing, upset stomach and changes in color vision.

If you have a history of heart disease, arrhythmia, stroke or high blood pressure, use these medications with caution and medical discretion. Also avoid taking these medications if you are taking any type of organic nitrates. Seek immediate medical assistance if you have an erection that lasts longer than four hours.
An external vacuum pump. This device helps pull blood into the penis using a hand pump. A tension ring helps keep the blood in place, maintaining the erection for up to 30 minutes.

For women with sexual symptoms, your doctor may recommend:
Vaginal lubricants. Vaginal lubricants may decrease dryness and make sexual intercourse more comfortable and enjoyable.

Heart rhythm and blood pressure symptoms

Autonomic neuropathy can cause a number of heart rate and blood pressure problems. Your doctor may prescribe:

Medications that help raise your blood pressure. If you feel faint or dizzy when you stand up, your doctor may suggest a drug called fludrocortisone. This medication helps your body retain salt, which helps regulate your blood pressure.

Other drugs that can help raise your blood pressure include midodrine and pyridostigmine (Mestinon). Midodrine may cause high blood pressure when lying down.
Medication that helps regulate your heart rate. A class of medications called beta blockers helps to regulate your heart rate if it goes too high with an activity level.
A high-salt, high-fluid diet. If your blood pressure drops when you stand up, a high-salt, high fluid diet may help maintain your blood pressure. This is generally only recommended for very severe cases of blood pressure problems, as this treatment may cause blood pressure that is too high or swelling of the feet, ankles or legs. 

Sweating

If you experience excessive sweating, your doctor may prescribe:
A medication that decreases perspiration. The drug glycopyrrolate (Robinul, Robinul Forte) can decrease sweating. Side effects may include diarrhea, dry mouth, urinary retention, blurred vision, changes in heart rate, headaches, loss of taste and drowsiness. Glycopyrrolate may also increase the risk of heat-related illness (such as heatstroke) from a reduced ability to sweat.

Lifestyle and home remedies By Mayo Clinic Staff

Posture changes. Stand up slowly, in stages, to decrease dizziness. Sit with your legs dangling over the side of the bed for a few minutes before getting out of bed. Flex your feet and grip your hands for a few seconds before standing up, to increase blood flow.

Once standing, try tensing your leg muscles while crossing one leg over the other a few times to increase blood pressure.
Elevate the bed. If you have low blood pressure, it may also help to raise the head of your bed by about 4 inches by placing blocks or risers under the legs at the head of the bed.
Digestion. Eat small, frequent meals to combat digestive problems. Increase fluids, and opt for low-fat, high-fiber foods, which may improve digestion. You may also want to try restricting foods that contain lactose and gluten.
Diabetes management. Try to keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. Tight blood sugar control can help lessen symptoms and help to prevent or delay the onset of new problems.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autonomic-neuropathy/basics/treatment/con-20029053