What are sensory disorders?
A sensory disorder is an altered perception of certain stimuli such as touch, temperature, pressure or vibration due to a disruption in the transmission of information by one or more nerves. There are different forms, on the one hand one can feel the stimuli weaker (hypaesthesia) or on the other hand one can feel hypersensitivity (hyperesthesia). A well-known type of sensitivity disorder is “formication” or tingling (paresthesia), which can also manifest itself as a furry feeling. Finally, harmless stimuli can be experienced as unpleasant or painful.
The causes
Basically, sensory disturbances are caused by damage or irritation of the nerves and the resulting disturbance of information transmission. This damage can occur in the peripheral nerves, for example in diabetes mellitus, alcohol addiction, due to medication or autoimmune diseases. However, central causes can also damage the nerves, as in the case of inflammation of the meninges, a herniated disc, a stroke or multiple sclerosis.
If a sensitivity disorder occurs, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Acute stress situations or anxiety states can lead to faster breathing (hyperventilation). This can typically cause a tingling sensation around the mouth and the hands can cramp.
These symptoms disappear again during normal breathing. Long periods of stress are accompanied by increased cortisone levels in the blood. This can weaken the immune system so that, for example, autoimmune diseases or inflammations can occur more easily.
There are also patients who have experienced stressful situations or trauma in the past and develop a psychosomatic disorder. In stressful situations, the affected persons react with physical symptoms without suffering from a physical illness. They may develop a dissociative sensitivity and sensory disorder.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system whose cause is still unknown. The disease usually progresses in relapses in which neurological deficits occur. These can then recover completely, but a residual symptomatology remains in the course of the disease.
Sensory disturbances in all their forms are possible for this disease. In most cases, the symptoms occur in relapses and disappear after days or weeks. Loss of the optic nerve and paralysis often occur in addition to sensitivity disorders.
A circulatory disorder of the brain can cause a sudden, unilateral sensory disturbance. In most cases it is a reduced sense of touch (hypaesthesia) accompanied by paralysis and in some cases speech disorders. However, these accompanying symptoms can also be absent.
If a stroke is suspected, immediate medical attention is required. If a stroke is treated quickly using a special blood thinner, the symptoms can disappear completely. In many cases, however, an improvement can only be felt in the course of the stroke.
During operations, small and large nerves can be damaged or irritated. On the one hand, superficial nerves in the area of the incision can be interrupted, causing numbness there. In most cases, this recovers in a short time.
However, the numbness can remain in the area of the scar. Large nerves can be irritated during the operation, by pressure or by pulling. This can also cause failure symptoms, but can also recover in the postoperative course.
In the worst case, a nerve was severed during the operation. Then a numbness and possibly paralysis develops in the supply area of the nerve. The severing of a nerve cannot heal on its own; it must either be sutured again immediately or replaced by a nerve of its own during the course of the operation.
Polyneuropathy is the damage of peripheral nerves with sensitivity disorders as a result. In most cases the basic disease is diabetes mellitus or alcohol addiction, but it can also be caused by an autoimmune disease, inflammation or medication. The sensations are mostly in feet and possibly hands, symmetrical and painful.
Typical are tingling and “ant walking” of the soles of the feet and often the reflexes are reduced. Overall, patients suffer from a disturbed perception of all sensitive stimuli, which can also cause a gait disorder. Here you can read more about polyneuropathy.
A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause funicular myelosis, which is associated with severe neurological symptoms.In this process, part of the spinal cord is destroyed by the vitamin deficiency and symmetrical sensitivity disorders of the extremities develop, which can be ascending. Those affected experience numbness, tingling, a reduced sense of vibration, pain and may also have symptoms of paralysis. People at risk for such deficiency are patients with intestinal diseases, elderly people, people with malnutrition, pregnant women and newborns, and vegans or vegetarians.
