Neuropathy

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that can occur with controlled diabetes and other medical conditions. 

Peripheral neuropathy, which is a specific type of neuropathy, results from nerve damage outside your brain and spinal cord that often causes symptoms in your limbs, hands, and feet. Regardless of the type of neuropathy you have, pain is a common symptom.

What are the symptoms of neuropathy?

The symptoms you experience with neuropathy depend on the type of neuropathy you have and its severity. The pain could be mild or severe. Common symptoms include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Sharp pain
• Burning or throbbing pain
• Muscle weakness
• Sensitivity to touch
• Feet problems
• Loss of coordination or balance
• Altered reflexes
• Heat intolerance

Pain associated with neuropathy often comes on gradually. With peripheral neuropathy, you could experience pain in your arms, hands, legs, and feet. Seeking treatment early helps minimize symptoms.

What causes neuropathy?

Diabetes is a common cause of peripheral and other forms of neuropathy. You can also develop neuropathy due to:

• Uncontrolled blood sugar
• An autoimmune disease or genetic disorder
• Infections
• Tumors
• Thyroid problems
• Kidney, liver, and bone marrow disorders
• Nerve pressure or inflammation
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Alcoholism, smoking, and drug abuse
• Taking certain medications

To diagnose the cause of neuropathy, your doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history and examines you. They conduct specialized tests, including nerve function tests, and can use blood tests, imaging procedures, and nerve biopsies.

How is neuropathy treated?

Your personalized neuropathy treatment plan is based on the type of neuropathy you have and its severity. Your doctor could recommend:

Diabetes management

Controlling your blood sugar when you have diabetes is the best way to prevent neuropathy and the pain associated with it from getting worse. Oral diabetes medications, insulin injections, lifestyle changes, and a combination of these treatments help control blood glucose levels.

Physical therapy

Physical therapists at NovaSpine Pain Institute strengthen areas of your body affected by neuropathy to restore function and relieve chronic pain.

Medications

Using oral medications or topical creams can relieve pain and other symptoms of neuropathy. Your doctor lets you know which medicines if any, are right for you.

Pain injections

Your pain management specialist can use nerve-block injections to block nerve pain signals from reaching your brain and to ease neuropathy symptoms.

Surgery

In some cases, surgery will be necessary to reduce the nerve pressure associated with neuropathy pain.

Don’t live with debilitating neuropathy symptoms when simple solutions are within reach. Schedule an appointment with NovaSpine Pain Institute over the phone or use the online contact form.