Neuropathy

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy, also called peripheral neuropathy, means you have a damaged nerve in your body (outside your brain and spinal cord). 

Peripheral neuropathy includes a spectrum of nerve disorders with many possible causes, such as:

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid disease
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Viral and bacterial infections
• Traumatic nerve injuries
• Substance use disorder (alcohol and drugs)
• Autoimmune diseases (like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, and others)
• Certain medications (especially those used for treating cancer)

Diabetes is responsible for more cases of peripheral neuropathy than any other condition.

What symptoms does neuropathy cause?

Peripheral nerves carry messages between your brain and body, sending instructions from the brain to your muscles, picking up and delivering sensory information to your brain, and controlling life-sustaining functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

Depending on which nerves are damaged, you may experience a range of symptoms. A few examples include

• Pain
• Tingling and burning
• Numbness
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle pain and cramps
• Muscle loss
• Balance problems
• Racing heartbeat
• Sweating too much or too little
• Difficulty swallowing

Diabetic neuropathy symptoms begin in your feet. At first, you may experience pain and tingling, then numbness sets in, and open sores develop (diabetic foot ulcers).

How is neuropathy treated?

Neuropathy involves one or more nerves in the vast network throughout your body. Getting the best treatment depends on the Center for Neurology and Spine team accurately diagnosing the affected nerves and the cause of the nerve damage (if one exists).

Their team has particular expertise in advanced electrodiagnostic testing that measures nerve activity, like electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS).

Your provider begins with a customized treatment that targets any underlying conditions while easing your symptoms. 

Treating the root cause gives the nerves time to heal unless the nerve damage is permanent. For example, nerve injuries caused by high blood sugar won’t heal. However, controlling your blood sugar prevents future damage.

Managing your neuropathy symptoms often requires multifaceted care, including medications, physical therapy, and treatments targeting damaged nerves.

An integral part of your care at the Center for Neurology and Spine includes education about your nerve disorder and lifestyle changes to prevent ongoing problems, a crucial component if you have diabetes.

The Center for Neurology and Spine provides aggressive treatment for neuropathy to preserve and protect your nerves and maintain optimal functioning. Call the office today or request an appointment online to learn more about neuropathy.