Neuropathy

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy, sometimes called peripheral neuropathy, is a condition in which nerve damage interferes with the communication between your brain and your peripheral nerves. 

Your peripheral nerves are the nerves that branch out from your spinal cord and spread throughout your body. 

Your peripheral nerves control your movement, sensation, and autonomic functions such as digestion and respiration. As a result, neuropathy can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including:

• Numbness or weakness in your hands and feet
• Sharp or burning pain
• Lost coordination and balance
• Muscle weakness
• Feeling like you’re wearing gloves when you aren’t
• Heat intolerance
• Excessive sweating

In rare cases, neuropathy interferes with your bowel and bladder control or your blood pressure.

Additionally, if your sciatic nerve is damaged, neuropathy can cause sciatica symptoms. These include pain and tingling sensations that shoot from your buttocks down the backs of your thighs, muscle weakness, and lost coordination.

What causes neuropathy?

Uncontrolled diabetes is one of the most prevalent causes of neuropathy. Continuously elevated blood sugar eventually damages your nerves. Other causes of neuropathy include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
• Infections like Lyme disease, hepatitis B or C, or HIV
• Tumors
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Thyroid disease

Other factors that contribute to neuropathy include alcoholism, physical trauma, and vitamin deficiencies. 

How is neuropathy diagnosed?

At Joshuason Rehabilitation & Pain Management LTD, Dr. Wrightson diagnoses neuropathy through a physical exam and nerve testing. He begins by asking about your symptoms, overall health, and medical history. He performs reflex and sensitivity tests during your exam. 

Dr. Wrightson also orders blood tests, diagnostic imaging studies such as MRIs, and nerve studies to assess your condition in more detail. For example, nerve function studies such as electromyography test the electrical activity in your muscles to identify nerve damage.

How is neuropathy treated?

Dr. Wrightson offers customized treatments for neuropathy. Depending on your specific needs, he may recommend:

• Spinal cord stimulators
• Physical pain pumps
• DRG stimulators
• Peripheral nerve blocks/neural ablation  

Getting treatment for neuropathy is critical to your long-term health. When left untreated, neuropathy can increase your risk of falls, foot ulcers, infection, and eventually amputation or paralysis.

If you have neuropathy symptoms and want expert diagnosis and personalized care, call Joshuason Rehabilitation & Pain Management LTD or make an appointment online today.