Neuropathy Treatment in Carrollton, TX

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

Every nerve in your peripheral system has a specific function, so symptoms depend on the type of nerves affected. Nerves are classified into:

• Sensory nerves that receive sensation, such as temperature, pain, vibration or touch, from the skin
• Motor nerves that control muscle movement
• Autonomic nerves that control functions such as blood pressure, perspiration, heart rate, digestion and bladder function

Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy might include:

• Gradual onset of numbness, prickling or tingling in your feet or hands, which can spread upward into your legs and arms
• Sharp, jabbing, throbbing, or burning pain
• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Pain during activities that shouldn’t cause pain, such as pain in your feet when putting weight on them or when they’re under a blanket
• Lack of coordination and falling
• Muscle weakness
• Feeling as if you’re wearing gloves or socks when you’re not
• Paralysis if motor nerves are affected

If autonomic nerves are affected, signs and symptoms might include:

• Heat intolerance
• Excessive sweating or not being able to sweat
• Bowel, bladder, or digestive problems
• Drops in blood pressure, causing dizziness or lightheadedness

Peripheral neuropathy can affect one nerve (mononeuropathy), two or more nerves in different areas (multiple mononeuropathy), or many nerves (polyneuropathy). Carpal tunnel syndrome is an example of mononeuropathy. Most people with peripheral neuropathy have polyneuropathy.

When to see a doctor

Seek medical care right away if you notice unusual tingling, weakness or pain in your hands or feet. Early diagnosis and treatment offer the best chance for controlling your symptoms and preventing further damage to your peripheral nerves.

Causes

Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage caused by a number of different conditions. Health conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathy include:

• Autoimmune diseases.These include Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and vasculitis.
• This is the most common cause. Among people with diabetes, more than half will develop some type of neuropathy.
• These include certain viral or bacterial infections, including Lyme disease, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and C, leprosy, diphtheria, and HIV.
• Inherited disorders.Disorders such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are hereditary types of neuropathy.
• Growths, cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign), can develop on the nerves or press on nerves. Also, polyneuropathy can arise as a result of some cancers related to the body’s immune response. These are a form of a degenerative disorder called paraneoplastic syndrome.
• Bone marrow disorders.These include an abnormal protein in the blood (monoclonal gammopathies), a form of bone cancer (myeloma), lymphoma and the rare disease amyloidosis.
• Other diseases.These include kidney disease, liver disease, connective tissue disorders and an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

Other causes of neuropathies include:

• Poor dietary choices made by people with alcoholism can lead to vitamin deficiencies.
• Exposure to poisons.Toxic substances include industrial chemicals and heavy metals such as lead and mercury.
• Certain medications, especially those used to treat cancer (chemotherapy), can cause peripheral neuropathy.
• Injury or pressure on the nerve.Injuries, such as from motor vehicle accidents, falls or sports injuries, can sever or damage peripheral nerves. Nerve pressure can result from having a cast or using crutches or repeating a motion such as typing many times.
• Vitamin deficiencies.B vitamins — including B-1, B-6 and B-12 — vitamin E and niacin are crucial to nerve health.

In some cases, no cause can be identified (idiopathic).

Here at Trinity Integrated Medical, we are Board Certified in Peripheral Neuropathy and Chronic Pain by the American College of Physical Medicine. We have solutions that avoid long term medications (such as Gabapentin) and have a direct effect on the peripheral nerves themselves.  Our approach is to help you decrease the body’s inflammation and regenerate the nerves while utilizing the latest, state-of-the-art treatment methods that will help you get your life back.  Our goal is to minimize your numbness and tingling, eliminate your falls, and help you function like you used to!