Neuropathy

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy is pain that comes from the nerves themselves, rather than the nerves sending messages about damage to other tissues.

One of the most common forms is peripheral neuropathy. This is a problem with your peripheral nervous system, which is all the nerves that go out from your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and spread throughout your body.

Neuropathy can come from damage to the nerves, or a malfunction of the nerves that makes them send back pain signals despite there being no injury or disease.

What causes neuropathy?

The damage to your peripheral nerves that causes neuropathy can have numerous causes, including:

• Diabetes
• Shingles
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Thyroid disorders
• Infections
• Traumatic injury
• Alcoholism
• Toxins
• Vitamin deficiencies

Sometimes there’s no clear cause for neuropathy.

What problems does neuropathy cause?

Because your peripheral nerves play such a significant role in so many of your body’s functions, neuropathy can cause many different problems. Pain is often the main symptom of neuropathy, but it can also cause problems such as:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Lack of strength
• Loss of coordination
• Muscle cramps
• Sensitivity to heat
• Sensitivity to touch
• Digestive upsets
• Urinary problems

Neuropathy can even affect your heart rate and blood pressure.

What treatments are available for neuropathy?

Treatment options for neuropathy can vary depending on the cause of your condition and its effects. It’s important to address any underlying causes of your condition first. For example, diabetic neuropathy can improve with better management of your diabetes.

You might need to take medications for your neuropathy. Prescription painkillers can be effective if used wisely, but other drugs like antiseizure medications can also be helpful for neuropathy. Physical therapy, nerve stimulation therapy, trigger point injections, and acupuncture can also be of benefit for many patients.

Dr. Nelson provides cutting-edge therpaies as well as regenerative medicine treatments for neuropathy. These use substances from your body to help injured tissues to heal. The two main types of regenerative medicine are stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Injecting your own stem cells and platelets into the affected nerves could help them to heal.  Over time, new cells grow and multiply, repairing and rebuilding the tissues more effectively than your body can manage on its own.

To find out more about effective treatments for neuropathy, go to our Procedures page.

Please call Dr. Daniel Nelson today or book an appointment online.