Neuropathy Treatment Q & A

What is neuropathy?
Also known as peripheral neuropathy because it affects the nerves of your peripheral nervous system, neuropathy occurs when your peripheral nerves become damaged or disrupted and don’t function normally.

Peripheral nerves are responsible for carrying messages from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. They’re grouped into three types:

• Sensory nerves which transmit sensation from the skin, such as temperature, pain, or touch
• Motor nerves that control muscle movement
• Autonomic nerves that control involuntary functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, and digestion

What are the symptoms of neuropathy?
Your symptoms depend upon which peripheral nerves are affected and may include:

• Persistent numbness, prickling, or tingling in your feet or hands, which can eventually spread into your legs and arms
• Pain that may be sharp, jabbing, throbbing, freezing, or burning
• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Falls due to lack of coordination
• Muscle weakness or paralysis when motor nerves are affected

Neuropathy can affect one nerve, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome, or many nerves at once.

What causes neuropathy?

• Diabetes, which is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy
• Spinal problems
• Autoimmune disorders
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Poor nutrition and deficiencies in certain B vitamins, vitamin E, and niacin, which are crucial to nerve health
• Certain medications or treatments such as chemotherapy

What is the treatment for neuropathy?
Rather than just trying to mask the symptoms of neuropathy, a multi-pronged treatment approach is used to address the underlying condition. The treatments offered for neuropathy at Regenesys Physical Medicine include:

• Near infrared light therapy and electric muscle stimulation to increase circulation and nutrient-rich blood flow to the affected areas which aids in healing
• Platelet-rich plasma injections and other evidence-based medicinal therapies that help repair and rebuild damaged tissue
• Dietary guidance to restore the nutritional balance your body requires for optimal function

To treat the whole patient, lifestyle changes may be recommended, such as weight loss, increased physical activity, and other factors that can have a positive effect on your overall health.

What is the treatment for diabetic neuropathy?
Since diabetes is the leading cause of neuropathy, the team at Regenesys Physical Medicine in Frisco takes the treatment process for diabetic neuropathy seriously and uses a personalized approach to each patient. Given the substantial discomfort caused by this condition, as well as the huge inconvenience it imposes on the lives of those who suffer, we are prepared to help provide safe, effective relief without the dangerous medications that many patients believe is their only option.

One of the most important treatments for diabetic neuropathy is blood sugar control. The team can help you improve your blood sugars with diet and lifestyle changes, including, if needed, a medically supervised weight-loss plan.

To restore nerve function and improve symptoms, the team at the Frisco medical clinic may recommend infrared light therapy, muscle stimulation, PRP injections.

Is fibromyalgia a neuropathic condition?
Researchers aren’t certain of the exact mechanism that causes the pain associated with fibromyalgia but believe it may be due to an amplification of the pain signal from the nerve to your brain.

Our Frisco medical clinic aims to find more natural solutions to improve your pain and function and take an integrative medical approach in the management of your fibromyalgia to improve your quality of life. While fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that can be very challenging to treat, our team is ready to help provide the most appropriate solutions for each individual.

Schedule an appointment with Regenesys Physical Medicine today for real answers to your neuropathy symptoms. Call the office or book your visit online.