What is neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a chronic nerve disorder that stems from nerve degeneration, pressure, inflammation, or infection. Your nerves may become compressed, pinched, or trapped, which can lead to agonizing discomfort and muscle weakness.
Common causes of neuropathy include:
- Blood sugar spikes associated with diabetes
- Repetitive motions (common with carpal tunnel syndrome)
- Shingles or viral infections
- Ruptured or slipped disc
- Phantom limb pain
- Liver or kidney failure
You can even develop neuropathy because of certain hereditary conditions or chronic inflammation, as with rheumatoid arthritis.
What are the symptoms of neuropathy?
Your nervous system doesn’t have receptors or a system for pain paths, so nerves send faulty signals when they become injured. Dr. Fahed finds that neuropathy commonly leads to weakness in your limbs and difficulty holding on to objects. Plus, your brain misinterprets faulty signals as pain, which may feel:
- Burning
- Shooting
- Electrical
- Prickly
You may also experience episodes of numbness or extreme itchiness. Neuropathy sufferers also commonly report being hypersensitive to cold and heat.
The nerve pain and associated symptoms you experience with neuropathy can travel to locations where your nerve extends. For instance, with sciatica, pain in your sciatic nerve may result in shooting pains all the way down the nerve, which begins in your lower spine and reaches down to your calf.
How does a doctor treat neuropathy?
When you come to Texas Pain and Regenerative Medicine for your neuropathy treatment, Dr. Fahed listens to all of your concerns and gets to know about all of the symptoms you experience. He may conduct nerve studies or gather imaging tests to diagnose your neuropathy.
Depending on your diagnosis, Dr. Fahed may recommend any of the following treatments:
- Muscle-strengthening exercises
- Relaxation techniques
- Activity modifications
- Weight management
- Splinting or bracing
- Dietary counseling
- Physical therapy
Dr. Fahed might also recommend pain-relieving solutions, such as medications, topical creams, or injections. He regularly provides epidural injections, nerve blocks, and spinal cord stimulator treatments to help with neuropathy, so you can expect effective relief.
Texas Pain and Regenerative Medicine provides innovative neuropathy treatments. Find out more by booking an evaluation through the website or over the phone with either clinic today.
