Peripheral Neuropathy

What is peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage, specifically any condition impacting the nerves outside your brain or spinal cord. The nerve damage can be due to many causes, including vitamin deficiencies, genetic defects, infections, injuries, and hormonal imbalances. In many cases, the root cause is unknown.

Many causes and types of peripheral neuropathy are treatable, but every case is unique and requires individualized care.

What are the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?

If you have nerve damage, it may present very differently from someone else’s, depending on which nerves are impacted and to what degree. Symptoms vary but can include the following:

• Numbness
• Burning, stabbing, freezing, or tingling pain
• Muscle weakness, especially in legs, feet, arms, or hands
• Unusual or increased sensation or extreme sensitivity to touch
• A feeling that you’re wearing socks or gloves when you’re not
• Difficulty walking, running, or controlling arm movements
• Trouble with balance and coordination
• Difficulty holding things
• Foot dragging, also called foot drop
• Unusually high arches
• Curled toes (hammer toes)

Talk to Dr. Lopez if you have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, as some nerve conditions require prompt treatment to see improvement.

How is peripheral neuropathy treated?

Your treatment plan will be based on your unique symptoms and underlying causes. As Dr. Lopez tailors your care, he may include:

Medications

Various medications can address peripheral nervous system issues. Dr. Lopez may prescribe injections, oral medications, patches, or slow-release medications.

Minimally invasive procedures

Nerve block injections and radiofrequency ablation can target painful nerves and improve your quality of life.

Physical therapy

Exercise can improve pain symptoms and help you recover from medical procedures or injuries. If you’re struggling to adapt to nervous system changes, physical therapy can address everyday concerns such as improving balance and decreasing your fall risk.

Wearable equipment and devices

Medical devices like walkers, canes, braces, prescription footwear, and more can prevent complications from peripheral neuropathy.

Other pain treatments

If your pain from peripheral neuropathy or nerve injury doesn’t improve with standard medications, pain specialists may occasionally offer other treatments such as injections, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or implanting a spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulator.

Don’t let peripheral neuropathy hold you back. Find out more about how Dr. Lopez can help by calling the West Texas Pain Institute office or booking an appointment online today.