Recognizing the Signs of Neuropathy

If you’re coping with unexplained pain and numbness in various parts of your body, you may have a troubling condition called neuropathy. At Delmarva Pain and Spine Center in Newark, Delaware, our interventional pain medicine expert, Dr. Sachi Patel, is passionate about discovering the root cause of your pain and helping your regain function so you can reclaim your quality of life. Here she outlines how you can recognize the signs and symptoms of neuropathy, and details solutions to decrease your pain.

Understanding neuropathy

Neuropathy is a chronic condition that occurs when you have nerve damage to one or a group of nerves. When the nerves that run outside your brain or spine are affected, they lose their ability to communicate properly with your brain, causing widespread numbness and pain in your feet, hands, mouth, face, internal organs, legs, and arms. 

Causes of neuropathy

Neuropathy is a complex condition that usually develops because of:

• Diabetes
• Inadequate nutrition
• Infection
• Medications
• Exposure to lead
• Overuse of alcohol
• Underactive thyroid
• Repetitive stress injury
• Kidney disease
• Metabolic disease
• HIV
• B12 deficiency
• Poor circulation

In some cases, neuropathy is hereditary.

Signs and symptoms of neuropathy

Depending on which nerves are affected and how severely, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

• Weakness
• Intolerance to heat
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Prickling
• Stabbing pain
• Impaired reflexes
• Loss of coordination
• Frequent falls
• Sensitivity to touch
• Sudden changes in blood pressure

A peculiar but telltale symptom of neuropathy is the sensation that you are wearing gloves on your hands or socks on your feet when you aren’t.

Diagnosing neuropathy

At our state-of-the-art clinic, we perform a comprehensive physical exam, conduct a nerve study, look at your bloodwork, and take a skin biopsy to determine if you have neuropathy and what’s causing it. Early diagnosis and intervention give you the best opportunity to quell your symptoms and prevent widespread nerve damage.

Treatments for neuropathy

Dr. Patel is a pioneer in new pain treatments and specializes in advanced interventional procedures like regenerative tissue therapy, platelet-rich plasma therapies, spinal cord stimulation, and intrathecal drug delivery. We may recommend other modalities to treat your pain, including joint injections, nerve stimulators, and acupuncture. 

Learn more about different neuropathy types and ways to get long-lasting relief by calling to make an appointment at one of our offices closest to you. We look forward to helping you feel good again.