Jürgen Drews is terminally ill: This is how polyneuropathy manifests itself

Jürgen Drews is terminally ill

Polyneuropathy – how does the disease manifest itself?

Pop star Jürgen Drews was diagnosed with polyneuropathy a few years ago. How the nerve disease manifests itself and how those affected can be helped.

Joelina Drews recently attracted attention with open words about her father Jürgen Drews' illness. The pop star, known as the “King of Mallorca,” suffers from polyneuropathy, a nerve disease.

The diagnosis led to Drews stepping away from the spotlight two years ago. But an Instagram clip that has now been published shows the musician laughing and active – despite his diagnosis (more on that here). A reason to take a closer look at the disease.

Polyneuropathy is a disease in which peripheral nerves – the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord – are damaged. The result: nerve impulses are no longer transmitted properly, which can lead to a wide variety of complaints. Sensory nerves that are responsible for sensations such as touch, heat or cold are usually affected.

The disease often occurs after the age of 65. The risk groups particularly include people with diabetes or high alcohol consumption. But other factors can also trigger polyneuropathy.

The symptoms of polyneuropathy vary greatly. They usually start on the feet or toes and slowly progress upwards. Typical are:

In rare cases, internal organs are also affected, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, digestive problems or bladder emptying problems.

The most common causes of polyneuropathy include diabetes (type 1 or type 2) and long-term excessive alcohol consumption. However, there are also many other causes. These cannot always be found out with certainty.

In the case of Jürgen Drews, the exact cause is not known. His daughter describes the disease as “slowly progressive,” which is typical of many forms of polyneuropathy.

Which therapy is the right one for polyneuropathy depends primarily on whether the cause of the disease can be determined. The main goal of treatment is to relieve the symptoms of the nerve disease as much as possible and prevent it from getting worse.

Medications are often used, including active ingredients from the group of antiepileptic drugs (such as gabapentin, pregabalin) or antidepressants (such as amitriptyline, duloxetine). Painkillers such as ibuprofen are usually less effective. Additionally, physical therapy can help counteract muscle weakness and pain.