Neuropathy Treatments
For the men and women who struggle with neuropathy, the discomfort and frustration associated with this condition are very real. Neuropathy is nerve damage that causes weakness, numbness, and pain, usually in the extremities.
The symptoms caused by neuropathy range from sudden and excruciating pain to a burning or pins-and-needles sensation. And, for many patients, what starts as occasional discomfort turns into a chronic condition.
Get In TouchWhat Is Neuropathy?
Our bodies contain nerves that extend from the brain and the spinal cord.
When these nerves are damaged (whether from complications due to diabetes, infections, traumatic injuries, vitamin deficiencies, or thyroid or liver diseases), patients can develop a problem with the peripheral nervous system known as neuropathy.
What Are Neuropathy Symptoms?
Neuropathy can develop slightly differently between patients. Therefore, expected symptoms vary on whether the nerve damage affects the motor nerves, autonomic nerves, sensory nerves, or a combination of these.
What Can You Do to Manage Your Neuropathy?
Living with neuropathy is not only frustrating, but it can also impact your ability to manage everyday tasks, like household chores or going to work. Neuropathy also affects your emotional well-being.
Many men and women dealing with neuropathy need to seek professional care, which may include diagnosing and treating underlying medical issues that affect your nerves. Interventional pain management options are also available, but there are some at-home practices you can do to ease your discomfort.
At-home neuropathy relief practices include:
- Focusing on your physical health:
- Eating nutritious meals
- Limiting caffeine
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol
- Staying active with exercise
- Focusing on your mental health:
- Meditation and mindfulness
- Keeping a positive outlook
- Taking medications as directed
What Causes Neuropathy?
While neuropathy can develop from any nerve injury or disease, it is most often associated with the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord (peripheral neuropathy).
There are many possible causes of neuropathy. Some of the most common include:
- Physical injury or trauma
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Autoimmune diseases
- Blood vessel disorders
- Kidney and liver disease
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Diabetes (about 60 to 70 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes develop mild-to-severe neuropathy)
How Is Neuropathy Diagnosed?
Neuropathy can often be detected by a series of blood tests that detect diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, and abnormal immune function.
Additional tests may include MRIs, CT scans, EMG (electromyography), or NCS (nerve conduction studies).
How Is Neuropathy Treated?
Once your neuropathy has been diagnosed, our specialists will develop a customized treatment plan that involves one or more of the following:
Interventional Pain Management Treatments
Interventional pain management treatments, such as epidural steroid injections, spinal cord stimulation, sympathetic nerve blocks, and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) effectively stop nerves from sending pain messages to your brain.
As a result, your pain is significantly diminished.
Another type of interventional treatment — called an epidural steroid injection — combines anti-inflammatory steroids with a local anesthetic for long-lasting pain relief.
Regenerative Medicine
The doctors at the Advanced Relief Institute can inject platelet-rich plasma, stem cell formulas, and/or amniotic fluid solutions to boost the body’s healing and repair processes.
Multimodal Support
The Advanced Relief Institute provides comprehensive care with many types of treatments proven to relieve neuropathic pain. For example, your treatment may include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), physical therapy, and cold laser therapy.
Is There a Recovery After Neuropathy Treatment?
While there is not usually downtime following treatment for neuropathy, patients may experience sensitivity in the treatment area for a few days. This is usually minor and will fade with time.
Looking for Neuropathy Relief?
If you are tired of the numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands and feet associated with neuropathy, contact the specialists at the Advanced Relief Institute. Our team will work diligently to diagnose the root cause of your condition and customize a personal treatment plan.
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