Small Fiber Neuropathy

Excerpt

Peripheral neuropathy is a prevalent problem, affecting an estimated 15 to 20 million people in the United States above the age of 40. It is the most common cause of outpatient neurology appointments in the United States and accounts for healthcare spending over $10 billion annually. In many affected individuals, such neuropathies involve the small nerve fibers, including the peripheral thinly myelinated Aδ fibers and unmyelinated C nerve fibers. Involvement of these small nerve fibers, referred to as small fiber neuropathy (SFN), typically presents with pain, burning, numbness, and tingling, often in a stocking-glove distribution, with symptoms typically starting in the feet and ascending superiorly.