Definition: Peripheral neuropathy refers to a group of more than 100 conditions that cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet. This condition is caused by nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system, the part of the nervous system that allows messages from the brain to be sent to the rest of the body. In many forms of peripheral neuropathy, the severity of the symptoms progress over time. Peripheral neuropathy can have many different causes such as genes, injury, diseases, infections, or medications and can be present at birth or develop later in life.