Neuropathy Treatment in Oklahoma City

When nerves located outside the spinal cord and brain are damaged, the condition that occurs is known as neuropathy. This nerve damage causes weakness, numbness, and pain in feet and hands, as well as other areas of the body. Neuropathy can also affect the functions of the body, such as digestion and urination. In some cases, neuropathy can be treated successfully, while at other times, the patients have irreversible damage to the nerves. Either way, there are ways to prevent and manage neuropathy through treatment, diet, and lifestyle changes. For more information about neuropathy treatment in Oklahoma City, make an appointment with Dr. Robinson.

Neuropathy Treatment OKC

Dr. Darryl D. Robinson is board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation with a subspecialty in Pain Medicine. Dr. Robinson has used this unique skill set to provide revolutionary solutions to pain syndromes for nearly two decades. One such syndrome is neuropathy, a highly common affliction that impacts over 20 million individuals in the United States alone.

What is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy (also called peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage) is a condition where the nerves located outside the brain and spine are damaged. These nerves are responsible for conveying information from the brain and spine to the rest of the body through motor nerves. It’s also known as the central nervous system. These nerves are also responsible for sending sensory information through sensory nerves to the central nervous system.

Peripheral nerves can be damaged due to a number of reasons, including traumatic injuries, infections, and one of the most common causes: diabetes. Neuropathy causes pain, numbness, and weakness in several parts of the body, including your hands and feet. Patients also describe this pain as stabbing and burning. Whether or not neuropathy can be reversed successfully depends on the cause of the problem. Visit our reliable Oklahoma City neurologists today at Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management and take precautions against neuropathy. 

What Causes Neuropathy?

The neuropathy condition can derive from a variety of sources, such as chemotherapy, failed surgery, postherpetic neuralgia, phantom limb syndrome, and diabetes (roughly 60% of people with diabetes suffer from neuropathy). Neuropathy often creates a burning or tingling sensation in the back, feet, hands, thighs, or face.

• Diabetes: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy. High levels of sugar in the blood can damage nerves throughout the body. The chances of developing neuropathy are higher if a diabetic person smokes and drinks.
• Medication: A few types of medication may cause peripheral neuropathy. They include chemotherapy drugs, certain antibiotics, and epilepsy medications.
• Health factors: The health factors that can cause neuropathy include excessive drinking, low levels of vitamin B12, hypothyroidism, and infections, such as shingles, Lyme disease, diphtheria, botulism, and HIV.

Symptoms of Neuropathy

People who have diabetes have a higher chance of developing neuropathy. Cancer patients who have undergone or are undergoing chemotherapy can also develop it. Patients with traumatic injuries or recent surgeries can also eventually develop neuropathy. If you tick any of the boxes above, it is recommended to keep an eye out for symptoms of neuropathy. Neuropathy is also linked to genetics, infections, and exposure to toxins. Below are the primary symptoms of neuropathy.

• Numbness of hands and feet
• Pain and weakness in hands and feet
• Stabbing pain in body parts
• Burning sensation in body parts
• Sensitivity to touch
• Bad coordination of muscles
• Frequent falling due to muscle weakness
• Limited movability 

Besides these symptoms, neuropathy can also affect autonomic nerves. These nerves control physiological functions of the body, such as heart rate, respiration, etc. The effect on autonomic nerves can develop additional symptoms, including:

• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness 
• Excessive sweating
• No sweating at all
• Intolerance of heat
• Problems in digestion
• Problems with bladder
• Reduction in blood pressure

If you have a curable condition, like an infection, these symptoms can get better. In contrast, symptoms are less likely to go away if you have a permanent condition. There is a wide array of treatment plans and medicines in the neuropathy clinic in OKC that can reduce the pain associated with neuropathy. If you were searching for “neuropathy treatment near me,” your wait is over. Find the best treatment for neuropathy in Oklahoma at Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management.

Types of Neuropathy

Different disorders and diseases can cause neuropathy, affecting various nerves. There are various types of neuropathy, classified according to the cause and the nerves affected.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy affects nerves that enable the movement of your arms, legs, hands, and feet. Both sides of the body are usually affected by peripheral neuropathy. Common symptoms include sharp pain, extreme sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness and numbness, and tingling sensations in the hands, the arms, the legs, and the feet.

Proximal Neuropathy

Proximal neuropathy affects nerves close to the torso, in particular, in the hips, the buttocks, and the thighs. It is a rare type of neuropathy that is linked to type 2 diabetes. Common symptoms include muscular atrophy, weight loss, loss of reflexes, weakness in the legs, and severe pain in the hips, the buttocks, and the thighs.

Focal Neuropathy

Focal neuropathy is a type of neuropathy that affects a single nerve, most often in the head, a hand, the torso, or a leg. It primarily occurs due to high levels of sugar or fat in the blood or compression of a nerve near a joint. Depending on the nerve affected, common symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the torso or the affected hand, wrist, fingers, or foot.

Cranial Neuropathy

Cranial neuropathy occurs when nerves in the brain or the brainstem are damaged. The symptoms of cranial neuropathy are very distinctive and may include aching behind one eye, double vision, one-sided facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), and difficulty focusing the eyes.

Autonomic Neuropathy

Autonomic neuropathy is a type of neuropathy that affects the autonomic nerves, which regulate involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, urination, sexual function, and vision. Autonomic neuropathy is predominantly linked to diabetes. Persistently high sugar levels in the blood can gradually damage autonomic nerves and cause a range of symptoms, including irregular heart rate, lightheadedness, changes in bowel movements, impaired sexual function, excessive sweating, and vision changes.

Stages of Neuropathy

Symptoms of neuropathy vary depending on how much damage the nerves have sustained and for how long. Knowing your stage of neuropathy can help you determine the extent of the damage and choose the best treatment method.

Mild Neuropathy

In the early stage of neuropathy, you may experience mild symptoms and brief episodes of unexplained pain and numbness. Your reflexes and balance may also suffer, but not noticeably. At this stage, neuropathy can sometimes be fully reversed using advanced treatments and a controlled diet.

Moderate Neuropathy

The line between the first and second stages of neuropathy isn’t always clearly defined, but you will notice worsening symptoms as your neuropathy progresses. The pain will be more intense and it will occur more frequently.

Severe Neuropathy

At this stage, symptoms will intensify and become constant. Since the connection between your nerves and brain has been damaged, you might not feel or notice injuries and will be at a greater risk of infection and health complications.

Advanced Neuropathy

Advanced neuropathy is a complete loss of sensation. You may experience relief from pain due to your lack of sensation, indicating worsening nerve damage. If you have diabetes, you may develop other conditions like kidney failure and retinopathy. Your mobility will be limited, and much of the damage to your nerves will be irreversible.

Treatment for Neuropathy

The treatment for neuropathy in Oklahoma is determined by the cause of the condition, as well as your medical history and personal preferences. Our Oklahoma City healthcare professionals can guide you through the treatment process. Generally, we use multimodal therapy for neuropathy, which may include the following methods.

• Medication: Medication for neuropathy is available in various types and forms, including tablets, injections, skin patches, slow-release medications, and more.
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy can improve pain, helping you recover from traumatic injuries or accidents resulting in nerve damage and limited mobility. The changes in your nervous system require you to make life adjustments, which can be greatly facilitated by physical therapy.
• Supportive devices: Supportive devices include braces, prescribed footwear, canes, and walkers. This equipment can significantly improve your mobility.
• Alternative methods: If your pain doesn’t improve with standard treatment options, healthcare professionals may recommend alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, TEN stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, or surgery.

Overall, with our neuropathy treatment in Oklahoma, you’ll get extreme pain relief and improvement in your mobility & functionality holistically, which will increase your overall quality of life. Allow us to develop a specialized treatment and pain management plan for you.

Why Choose Us for Neuropathy Treatment in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma Spine and Pain Management has been helping patients suffering from nerve damage for over a decade. Under the management of Dr. Darryl D. Robinson, patients receive personalized treatment for all types of neuropathy. Here are a few reasons why patients in OKC put their trust in Oklahoma Spine and Pain Management:

• Board certification: Our doctors are board-certified and fellowship-trained to offer reliable treatment for neuropathy.
• Top physician award: Dr. Robinson has been recognized as one of the top doctors in the region by Castle Connolly.
• 15 Years of experience: Our clinic has been serving OKC residents for over 15 years, while Dr. Robinson has over 30 years of experience in the medical field.
• Advanced treatments: Our healthcare professionals provide advanced treatments for a wide range of conditions to ensure lasting results.  

Make an Appointment Today

Don’t let your condition get worse. The best way to treat neuropathy is to catch it in its early stages. For personalized neuropathy treatment, all you need to do is call us or fill out our contact form to book an appointment.

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