Neuropathy

What causes neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a general term meaning you have nerve damage. However, neuropathy typically refers to a problem with your peripheral nerves, which includes the extensive network of nerves outside your brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral neuropathy may affect multiple nerves or just one nerve (mononeuropathy). A few examples of mononeuropathy include radial neuropathy (arm), carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist), ulnar neuropathy (elbow), and peroneal neuropathy (knee).

You can develop peripheral neuropathy from exposure to toxins, a traumatic or overuse injury, or many health conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Kidney disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Peripheral artery disease
• Viral and bacterial infections
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Autoimmune diseases

Diabetes causes more cases of peripheral neuropathy than any other underlying condition.

What symptoms develop due to neuropathy?

Any damaged nerve can cause pain. However, you may also experience an array of symptoms, depending on the type of nerve that sustains the damage:

Sensory nerves

Sensory nerves carry information about pain, pressure, temperature, body position, and other senses from your body to your brain. When neuropathy affects the sensory nerves, you have symptoms such as pain, tingling, burning, and numbness. You could also experience loss of balance, dizziness, or vertigo.

Motor nerves

These nerves take information from your brain to your muscles. As a result, damaged motor nerves cause symptoms in your muscles, including cramps, pain, and weakness. You could also develop muscle loss (atrophy).

Autonomic nerves

Autonomic nerves automatically control the functions that keep you alive, such as your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and digestion. Damage to your autonomic nerves can cause a wide range of symptoms, from profuse sweating to a rapid heartbeat.

How is neuropathy diagnosed and treated?

When diagnosing neuropathy, Dr. Manohar completes a physical and neurological exam. Then she conducts diagnostic tests such as blood tests, electromyography (EMG), and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests.

If you have an underlying health condition, your treatment targets that specific problem. As the root cause improves, the nerves have time to heal and your neuropathy diminishes.

To manage diabetes, it's essential to use medications, dietary changes, and exercise to keep your blood sugar in a normal range. 

Neuropathy treatment could also include:

• Oral and topical pain-relieving medications
• Anti-seizure medications
• Physical therapy
• Nerve blocks
• Corticosteroid injections
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
• Relaxation techniques

Some nerve conditions may need minimally invasive surgery to take pressure off the nerve.

If you have ongoing pain or other symptoms of neuropathy, call Neuro Rehab & Pain Institute, or book an appointment online today.