What is neuropathy? Technically, it is damage to the nerves, according to the American Diabetes Association. It can be defined as any problem within the structure of the nerve and the end organs it supplies.
What are some of the symptoms of neuropathy? It can present itself as numbness and loss of feeling and sensation, tingling, burning, unusual or strange sensations; it can create problems with balance, cause weakness or produce pain. These symptoms can occur by themselves or simultaneously.
Do you need to have diabetes to have signs or symptoms of neuropathy? Although some estimate that most patients who have diabetes will eventually develop some form of neuropathy over time, many people who do not have diabetes also have neuropathy.
Alcohol abuse, cancer chemotherapy, certain drugs, AIDS/HIV positive conditions, and trauma all can cause neuropathy; there are many unknown causes that result in neuropathic pain and loss of feeling and an exact diagnosis cannot be determined; this is known as “idiopathic neuropathy.”
What can be done for this terrible problem? First, one needs to determine the extent to which the symptoms are disturbing or controlling one’s life. Secondly, one needs to consider what the result of non-treatment would be.
Presently, traditional medicine has treated neuropathy with a variety of drugs and therapies to help decrease symptoms and eliminate pain. Many patients, however, do not find that these methods relieve their pain nor restore their sensation and cannot tolerate the ever increasing dosages of medication (e.g. Neurontin) that is needed to control symptoms; there are now alternative treatments which have been proven successful.
For the past 20 years, begun and developed by a surgeon from Johns Hopkins Medical School as a procedure to help diabetics with their hand neuropathy, these procedures have been performed on thousands of patients worldwide with excellent results. Many articles have been written in respected medical journals describing these procedures and results.
Approximately five years ago, Dr. Dellon began to train other surgeons to perform these procedures and we are now able to offer our patients similar results, pain relief and restoration of sensation.
The procedures are certainly not considered experimental and are covered by most insurance companies, including Medicare.
Occassionally, some of the testing that is required to determine whether a patient is a candidate for the procedures is not covered by insurance, but the cost of these tests is not excessive.
FOOT ON LEFT, BEFORE NERVE DECOMPRESSION SURGERY.
FOOT ON RIGHT (SAME PATIENT) AFTER NERVE DECOMPRESSION SURGERY.
NEUROPATHY TESTING INSTRUMENTATION.
