Neuropathy

It is estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States have some type of neuropathy. At Lakeshore Pain and Spine Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin, board-certified anesthesiology and pain medicine physician Bradley Silva, MD, provides expert interventional pain management for all types of neuropathy, including diabetic neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. Call the office or schedule your neuropathy consultation online today.

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy, also called peripheral neuropathy, refers to damage or dysfunction to one or more nerves in your peripheral nervous system.

Your peripheral nervous system includes the nerves that connect all the parts of your body to your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The types of peripheral nerves:

Sensory nerves

Sensory nerves relay environmental information to your brain for interpretation. This includes pain, temperature, and smell.

Motor nerves

Motor nerves control muscle movement. 

Autonomic nerves

Autonomic nerves are the peripheral nerves that control unconscious body systems like breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.

Neuropathy may affect any type of peripheral nerve, causing many symptoms. 

I have diabetes. Should I worry about neuropathy?

Diabetes is a common cause of neuropathy. People with diabetes have higher-than-normal blood sugar levels. Too much sugar in the blood damages the tiny nerves in the feet and hands, causing tingling, numbness, or pain. Lakeshore Pain and Spine Center treats diabetic neuropathy.

But diabetes isn’t the only condition that causes neuropathy. Many pain conditions develop from irritation or compression of a nerve. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome causes hand pain from compression of the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel. 

Nerve entrapment is also a common cause of neck and back pain. A herniated disc or degenerative disc disease (DDD) may compress or irritate a spinal nerve, causing pain that radiates into the arms or legs. 

When should I see pain management for neuropathy?

You should see the experts at Lakeshore Pain and Spine Center if your neuropathy symptoms affect your quality of life. The interventional pain management specialists take a patient-centered and whole-person approach to care, focusing on creating plans that provide the best outcomes.

At your initial consultation, your provider asks detailed questions about your symptoms and when they started. They also review your medical history and perform a physical exam. They may also request diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out the source of your pain. 

What treatments can help my neuropathy?

Lakeshore Pain and Spine Center customizes your neuropathy treatment plan based on the type of nerve involved, the severity of your symptoms, and the underlying cause. They take a multidisciplinary approach, and treatment may include:

• Medication management
• Physical therapy
• Lifestyle changes
• Interventional pain procedures
• Surgery
• Psychotherapy

Most of the interventional pain procedures are completed at the onsite procedure suite.

Call Lakeshore Pain and Spine Center or book an appointment online today for expert neuropathy care.