Neuropathy Specialist

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a generic term that includes many types of injury or disease that affect your peripheral nerves. Since there are many types of neuropathy, the conditions are defined by the type of nerve that’s affected or by the underlying disease responsible for the problem.

These are a few examples of common neuropathies:

• Peripheral neuropathy, which affects sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves
• Proximal neuropathy, which affects nerves in your shoulders, hips, thighs, or buttocks
• Diabetic neuropathy, which can damage nerves throughout your body but frequently affects your feet and eyes

Diabetic neuropathy is responsible for about 30% of all peripheral neuropathies. When your blood glucose is higher than normal, the sugar damages nerves throughout your body.

What causes neuropathy?

Neuropathy may be caused by:

• Physical injury
• Infections
• Autoimmune diseases
• Systemic diseases, such as kidney disease
• Medications
• Vascular disorders
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Alcoholism

Some types of neuropathies are inherited, but they’re rare compared to other causes.

What symptoms develop due to neuropathy?

Neuropathy symptoms may appear suddenly or develop slowly over time. The symptoms you’ll experience depend on the type of nerve that’s damaged.

Sensory nerves that carry information from your body to the brain cause symptoms such as:

• Pain that’s sharp, burning, or like an electric shock
• Tingling sensations
• Loss of reflexes
• Numbness or inability to feel pain

Motor nerves that carry information from your brain to muscles in your body cause symptoms such as:

• Muscle weakness
• Cramps or twitching
• Loss of muscle tone
• Difficulty walking or changes in gait
• Inability to move your arms or other parts of your body

Autonomic nerves that control vital body functions, like your heart rate and respiration, cause symptoms such as:

• Abnormal heart rate
• Dizziness or fainting
• Nausea or vomiting
• Problems with digestion
• Bowel or bladder problems

Some types of neuropathy affect numerous nerves, which can cause a mix of symptoms.

How is neuropathy treated?

When an underlying health condition is responsible for your neuropathy, that problem must be treated to prevent the nerve damage from worsening. For example, patients with diabetes need to keep their blood sugar within normal levels to avoid ongoing harm to their nerves.

Dr. Dike provides comprehensive care to relieve the symptoms caused by neuropathy. His expertise includes many types of therapies, ranging from oral and topical medications to nerve blocks and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Surgery may be an option in some types of neuropathy.

If you experience pain, tingling, muscle weakness, or other symptoms of neuropathy, call Affinity Neurocare or book an appointment online.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in America, yet up to 80% of all strokes could be prevented by lowering your blood pressure and eliminating other well-known risk factors. Nnamdi Dike, DO, at Affinity Neurocare specializes in stroke prevention, provides experienced medical care for strokes, and continues to support patients in their ongoing post-stroke recovery. To schedule an appointment, use the online booking feature or call the office in Frisco, Texas.