Enteric neuropathy is a degenerative

Degenerative disease

A degenerative disease, also called neurodegenerative disease, is a disease in which the function or structure of the affected tissues or organs will progressively deteriorate over time, whether due to normal bodily wear or lifestyle choices such as exercise or eating habits...

 neuromuscular condition of the digestive system. In simple terms the gut

Gut (zoology)

In zoology, the gut, also known as the alimentary canal or alimentary tract, is a tube by which bilaterian animals transfer food to the digestion organs. In large bilaterians the gut generally also has an exit, the anus, by which the animal disposes of solid wastes...

 stops functioning, due to degradation of the nerves and muscles. The condition affects all parts of the digestive tract. There is no known cure or treatment for Enteric neuropathy at this time; it is only possible to work on symptom management.

The name Enteric Neuropathy only seems to be used for diagnosis within the UK. The most common name worldwide for this condition is Intestinal pseudoobstruction

Intestinal pseudoobstruction

Intestinal pseudoobstruction is decreased ability of the intestines to push food through, and often causes dilation of various parts of the bowel. It can be a primary condition or caused by another disease...

.

Symptoms

The main symptom of enteric neuropathy is severe and constant pain. Other symptoms include nausea

Nausea

Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...

, vomiting

Vomiting

Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...

, diarrhoea, constipation

Constipation

Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation...

, bloating

Bloating

Bloating is any abnormal general swelling, or increase in diameter of the abdominal area. As a symptom, the patient feels a full and tight abdomen, which may cause abdominal pain sometimes accompanied by increased borborygmus or more seriously the total lack of borborygmus.-Symptoms:The most common...

 and abdominal abnormalities. In addition malabsorption

Malabsorption

Malabsorption is a state arising from abnormality in absorption of food nutrients across the gastrointestinal tract.Impairment can be of single or multiple nutrients depending on the abnormality...

 and poor nutrition

Malnutrition

Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....

 are common, as the digestive system begins to fail. Symptom management is very important and the main priority is usually to get on top of the pain. However, as most people may have been waiting for years for a diagnosis they are often already addicted to painkillers

Analgesic

An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....

 (such as tramadol

Tramadol

Tramadol hydrochloride is a centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic used in treating moderate pain. The drug has a wide range of applications, including treatment for restless legs syndrome and fibromyalgia...

 and oramorph) and these have adverse affects on the primary condition.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of enteric neuropathy is rather difficult, in that many symptoms present in ways that are common to many other bowel- and gut

Gut (zoology)

In zoology, the gut, also known as the alimentary canal or alimentary tract, is a tube by which bilaterian animals transfer food to the digestion organs. In large bilaterians the gut generally also has an exit, the anus, by which the animal disposes of solid wastes...

-related diseases. It is common that many people undergo many surgeries

Surgery

Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...

, sometimes over several years, to attempt to combat other possible diseases. The diagnosis itself requires a bowel motility study, which for those who have enteric neuropathy will show signs of severe abnormalities in the movement of the gut. An operation to take a section of muscle for biopsy

Biopsy

A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically...

which, if it shows signs of nerve degradation, confirms the diagnosis.