The early signs of neuropathy include numbness and tingling in your hands or feet. While a common cause of neuropathy is diabetes, it can also be the result of an injury, infection or exposure to toxins. It can also manifest as pain, weakness or a pins-and-needles sensation.
Neuropathy typically occurs when the peripheral nerves in your arms, hands, legs and feet are damaged, though it can impact any nerve in your body. The damage can manifest along a single nerve, or mononeuropathy, or multiple nerves, known as polyneuropathy, and the damaged nerves can be isolated to one area or found throughout the body, referred to as multiple polyneuropathy.
Neuropathy usually starts as a tingling sensation or numbness throughout your hands or feet, but the symptoms and their intensity depend on the type and location of the damaged nerve.
There are three types of nerves found throughout the body: sensory, motor and autonomic. Nerve damage to sensory or motor nerves may result in a gradually spreading numbness, stabbing or burning pain, sensitivity to touch and temperature shifts, loss of strength or coordination and muscle weakness or paralysis. Damaged autonomic nerves can lead to abnormal sweating, loss of bladder or bowel control, digestive issues and changes in blood pressure.
As the only certified neurodiagnostic center in the area, we have the tools needed to accurately diagnose neuropathy. You will need to undergo a physical exam, series of blood tests and a variety of diagnostic studies to test your nerves and reflexes, gauge your muscle strength and tone and reveal vitamin deficiencies and contributing conditions such as diabetes.
While we cannot repair the damaged nerves causing your neuropathy, we are able to manage your symptoms and prevent the neuropathy from progressing with a customized care and management plan.
From medication to alleviate pain to physical therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), your treatment plan will be tailored to relieve pain while keeping your muscles and soft tissue flexible and strong.
For some patients, neuropathy symptoms are the result of a tumor or growth pressing on a nerve. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove it and eliminate your symptoms.