The Facts

• According to the Neuropathy Association, approximately 30 percent of neuropathies are considered idiopathic, which means the cause is unknown. Neuropathy can be either inherited or acquired.
  
  

Risk Factors

• Diabetes is one of the most common risk factors for this condition. Other risk factors include alcohol abuse, vitamin deficiencies and autoimmune diseases.
  
  

Hereditary Causes

• Some hereditary disorders cause neuropathy. Examples include Friedreich's ataxia and amyloid polyneuropathy.
  
  

Infections

• Infections can cause neuropathy. Examples include Guillain-Barre syndrome, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis and syphilis.
  
  

Toxic Causes

• Exposure to poisonous substances may cause nerve damage. Sniffing glue or exposure to heavy metals such as lead or arsenic are possible toxic causes of neuropathy.
  
  

Other Causes

• Neuropathy is sometimes caused by physical trauma from accidents, sports-related injuries or falls. Other causes include prolonged pressure on a nerve, decreased oxygen and blood flow, compression of a nerve by casts and medication such as chemotherapy.