Neuropathy is the damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves that results in numbness, tingling, muscle weakness and pain in the affected area. Neuropathies frequently start in the hands and feet and other parts of your body can also be affected. Neuropathy often indicates a problem with the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves outside your brain and spinal cord. Neuropathy results when neurons are damaged or destroyed. This disrupts the way the neurons communicate with each other and with the brain. Neuropathy can affect one nerve or nerve type (mononeuropathy), a combination of nerves in a limited area (multifocal neuropathy) or many peripheral nerves throughout the body (polyneuropathy).