Neuropathy
NervePro Can Diagnose and Treat Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a general term meaning something is wrong with the nerves. This can cover many conditions, from trauma or entrapment of a specific nerve or general impairment of many nerves due to a systemic condition. Nerves are single cells that extend from the spinal cord such as the neck or back and terminate several feet away in the hands or feet, unlike most of our other cells such as muscle, liver, or skin cells which are microscopic in all dimensions and compact. Because of this, they are more sensitive to abnormalities in the body’s metabolism and can be thought of as an early warning system.
Diabetes, the most common metabolic condition that affects the body’s function, often impairs nerve function resulting in a neuropathy. When faced with a metabolic stress, nerves preserve their core, and the distal ends are damaged, (the condition is usually nerve length dependent) some lose function causing numbness and some become unstable, sending electrical signals like static in a bad phone line to the brain from their tips. Unfortunately, the brain is unable to identify these pain signals as false, and interprets it as a sensation of buzzing bees, pins and needles, sharp electrical sensations, squeezing, hot or cold, or feeling like walking on pebbles. The longest nerves are affected first, the toes and balls of the feet.
How we can help
NervePro can evaluate a neuropathy condition, take a history and perform an examination. Reflexes, strength, and sensation are assessed. Because there are five types of sensory nerves, and all may not be affected in a specific condition, sensation is measured by light touch, vibration, pin prick, and often position and temperature sensation. This characterizes the clinical picture. Lab work to look for a cause is drawn and electrodiagnostic testing is performed. Diabetes, thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, and autoimmune conditions are assessed as possible causes that are amenable to treatment.
Electrodiagnostic testing includes nerve conduction study (NCV), and electromyography (EMG). The nerve conduction velocity study involves giving an electrical stimulus over the nerve and recording the response at the end of that nerve