Top Solutions for Neuropathy Pain You Need to Explore With Your Doctor

Pain is your body’s way of alerting you that you’re ill or injured, which is a response designed to keep you safe from further harm. Typically, pain is divided into two categories: nociceptive and neuropathic. 

Nociceptive pain is more common and occurs when nociceptors in your body sense harm to your skin, muscles, bones, and tissues. Anytime you stub your toe or touch a hot surface, nociceptors send signals that something is amiss, and your brain interprets it as pain.

Neuropathic pain (neuropathy) is the result of neurological damage, which can often be caused by infections or injuries. No matter what damages your nerves, when they aren’t able to function properly, they send incorrect pain signals, which result in neuropathy.

Neuropathy has quite a long list of possible causes, so how it’s treated often varies from person to person, and at Midwest Innovative Pain Management in Dyer, Indiana, Maher Fattouh, MD, Mohamad Sebai, MD, and Anastasia Yorkman, NP, lead our team in the expert diagnosis and treatment of neuropathy, prioritizing care that works for you. 

In this month’s blog, we discuss possible causes of your nerve affliction and how we can help. 

Possible causes of your neuropathy

Neuropathy is often described as shooting, burning, or tingling pain. It may even come on suddenly, feeling like an electric shock. Neuropathy can also cause heightened sensitivity to temperature and touch sensations.

While anything that causes damage to your nerves or spinal cord can lead to neuropathy, these are some of the more common causes:

• Diabetes
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Infections, such as shingles or HIV/AIDS
• Nerve disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation
• Vitamin B12 deficiency 
• Severe alcohol abuse

In some cases, an underlying cause cannot be found.

Our solutions for neuropathy

At Midwest Innovative Pain Management, our team always prioritizes discovering the root cause of your neuropathy whenever possible. Thorough imaging testing and physical examinations can help us either diagnose what’s causing the nerve damage or, at the very least, eliminate some possibilities. 

After completing the diagnostic process, our team uses our findings to create a customized treatment plan. 

Commonly used treatments for effective pain management include over-the-counter pain relievers, nerve blocks, anti-seizure medications, and physical therapy. Oftentimes, neuropathy can cause emotional distress. Some antidepressants can not only relieve pain but also improve your mood. 

Regenerative therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, can help counteract nerve damage by encouraging tissue repair and cell regeneration with healing properties obtained from the platelets in your blood. 

If these first lines of treatment aren’t effective, surgically implanting a spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulation device can block pain signals through the use of electrical pulses sent through a generator. 

Learn more about your options for neuropathy relief

If you’re ready to get effective neuropathy relief with our team, schedule an appointment by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.