Neuropathy

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy refers to damage to or malfunctioning in your peripheral nervous system, which is responsible for sending information back and forth between your body and your brain.

Your peripheral nervous system has a number of particular functions, such as:

• Controlling muscle movement
• Controlling autonomic functions like digestion, blood pressure, and your heart rate
• Receiving sensations from your skin, like pain, touch, and temperature

Neuropathy can affect one or many of these functions.

What are the symptoms of neuropathy?

Because there is such a wide variety of functions for your peripheral nervous system, neuropathy can present itself with a wide range of symptoms, including:

• Intolerance to heat
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Burning, stabbing, or tingling pain 
• Weakness in your muscles or paralysis
• Problems with sweating too much or too little
• Digestive issues, or bowel and bladder malfunctions
• Feeling like there’s a covering over your hands or feet
• Lightheadedness or dizziness from changes in blood pressure
• Pain in situations that shouldn’t cause pain, like light touching on your skin
• A persistent prickling, tingling, or numbness in your hands, feet, arms, or legs

Diagnosing and treating your neuropathy early helps in controlling your symptoms and protecting your nerves from further damage, so schedule an appointment with California Pain Group immediately if you’re experiencing any of these conditions.

What causes neuropathy?

Neuropathy isn’t a disease in and of itself, but rather the result of having a damaged peripheral nervous system. Your peripheral nervous system can become damaged by:

• Tumors
• Diabetes
• Infections
• Alcoholism
• Chemotherapy
• Ingesting poisons
• Inherited disorders
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Autoimmune diseases
• Bone marrow disorders

Neuropathy can also be caused by physical trauma or pressure on your nerve. Accidents, like car collisions or sports injuries, frequently lead to neuropathy.

What are the treatments for neuropathy?

Dr. Celis and the team at California Pain Group first diagnose your neuropathy with a neurological exam and other tests, like an electromyogram or a nerve biopsy. 

Some of the more popular treatments for neuropathy include:

• Physical therapy
• Neuropathic medications
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Surgery, if your neuropathy is caused by a foreign object putting pressure on your nerves
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
• Nerve blocks
• Spinal cord stimulation

To learn more about how California Pain Group can treat your neuropathy, schedule a consultation today by calling the office or booking a visit online.