Why Seeking Treatment for Neuropathy Is Important

Nerve damage can be very serious and can come from a lot of different sources. It’s estimated that at least 20 million people in the United States alone suffer from some sort of neuropathy or damage to the nervous system. Neuropathy can impact the body in different ways and can be a sign of something serious. 

Do you think you may be suffering from the effects of neuropathy? Then you need help from an experienced and skilled medical staff. Dr. Mahendra Gunapooti and our team at Interventional Pain Management Services specialize in dealing with neuropathy. We can help manage your symptoms and diagnose what's causing them.

Understanding neuropathy

Neuropathy (also known as peripheral neuropathy) refers to any damage to the peripheral nervous system. This system connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body. These nerves transmit signals to and from the central nervous system, sending sensory information (feeling hot or cold, etc) and other signals to the rest of the body. They also help control other essential things like:

• Muscle contractions 
• Heart 
• Blood vessels 
• Digestion 
• Sexual function
• Immune system

As you can see, damage to the nerves can impact a lot of different areas and cause serious harm.

What causes neuropathy

Neuropathy isn’t a single condition, but one of many different ways diseases and other conditions impact the nerves. These include:

• Autoimmune diseases
• Diabetes
• Infections
• Tumors
• Alcoholism
• Trauma
• Vitamin deficiencies

With these conditions, you typically experience motor, sensory or autonomic nerve damage. Motor nerve damage impacts the muscles, causing weakness, cramps, and muscle shrinking. Sensory nerve damage can impact your ability to feel or touch. It can also contribute to the loss of reflexes. Autonomic nerve damage can cause heat tolerance and high blood pressure.

Managing neuropathy

Knowing what to look for is key to catching it early and dealing with it as soon as possible. Here are some common symptoms:

• Numbness, prickling or tingling in hands and feet
• Sharp or throbbing pain
• Muscle weakness
• Extreme touch sensitivity
• Heat intolerance
• Over sweating or not sweating at all

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? You should seek medical help as soon as possible. Part of managing neuropathy will be to manage the conditions that may be causing it, such as diabetes or alcoholism. 

A healthier diet with fruits, vegetables, and grains can be beneficial. As well as regular exercise and maintaining an active lifestyle. It also helps to avoid repetitive motions and other factors that can cause nerve damage.

Many forms of neuropathy can be treated through medications, surgery, and other methods. Make an appointment with Dr. Gunapooti at Interventional Pain Management Services to find out the treatment that’s best for you.