what is peripheral neuropathy?

"My feet feel like they're on fire." 

"Each step feels like I'm walking through wet paint.” 

"I live in constant fear that I'll fall." 

"I can't sleep, my hands and feet tingle all night." 

What do all of these people have in common? They suffer from peripheral neuropathy. It's estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States have peripheral neuropathy. Unfortunately, this figure may be significantly higher as the disease is often misdiagnosed because of its wide array of symptoms. 

Kate McCarthy of Monadnock Acupuncture Center in Peterborough, New Hampshire shares this belief. "I've been treating neuropathy, in all its various forms for eight years now. Often patients come to me because of the symptoms, not because of a diagnosis. They see one of our newspaper ads, or read the testimonial of another patient and can identify with the person being interviewed.