Don't Endure Painful Neuropathy: We Have Non-Surgical Treatments
If you’ve been diagnosed with neuropathy, chances are you have one question at the forefront of your mind: How can I find relief? You’re not alone. More than 20 million Americans struggle with this condition, and researchers believe many more people are suffering without a diagnosis.
At New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center with offices in Hackettstown and Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, and Middletown, New York, neuropathy specialist Ajay Kumar MD, DABPM uses his expertise to help diagnose and manage this painful condition. Our team offers different non-surgical treatments customized for each patient to provide the best pain relief possible.
What is neuropathy?
Your body has many nerves which it uses to take in information from your body and the world around you. Your peripheral nervous system (PNS) sends this information to your brain and central nervous system (CNS), and it carries key information back to different body parts.
The nerves in the PNS live outside your brain and spinal cord. If they are injured or damaged, the signals sent to and from your peripheral and central nervous systems are disrupted and you develop neuropathy, also referred to as peripheral neuropathy.
Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in the US. This is because when you have chronically elevated blood sugar levels, it creates damage to your nerves and blood vessels. Other conditions or injuries that may cause neuropathy include:
- Injury or traumatic pressure (e.g., car accident, sports injury)
- Repetitive stress (e.g., typing)
- Alcoholism
- Certain medications (e.g., chemotherapy)
- Some autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus)
- Infections (e.g., Epstein-Barr, shingles, Lyme disease)
- Growths that press on nerves (e.g., cysts or tumors)
- Kidney or liver disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Vitamin deficiencies
Sometimes the exact cause is unknown, which is called idiopathic neuropathy.
How can I tell if I have neuropathy?
The condition doesn’t refer to a single neuropathic disorder, so different people may experience different symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms related to peripheral neuropathy include:
- Numbness, tingling, or prickling sensations
- Loss of feeling
- Pain (can be sharp, throbbing, or burning)
- Extreme sensitivity to temperature or touch
- Poor balance
- Failing coordination
- Muscle weakness or loss
- Trouble moving
Though it’s less common, it’s possible for neuropathy to impact the way your autonomic nerves, the nerves that control your body systems. When this happens, you might notice symptoms like dizziness from changes in blood pressure or heart rate, digestive problems, issues with urination or bowel movements, and excessive sweating.
How can non-surgical treatments help my neuropathy?
The answer to this question depends on the type of neuropathy you have and the extent of the nerve damage you’ve sustained. This is why it’s key to schedule an appointment with a specialist, like Dr. Kumar, if you have symptoms that suggest neuropathy.
In some cases, peripheral neuropathy can be reversed or cured through treatments. However, for the majority of people, treatments for neuropathy focus on preventing more nerve damage and minimizing the symptoms of the condition.
At New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center, Dr. Kumar takes a comprehensive approach to neuropathy. Beginning with an accurate assessment of your condition, he creates a personalized treatment plan to best meet your needs.
Typically, Dr. Kumar begins with the most conservative non-surgical treatments, which may include:
- Lifestyle changes to control blood sugar
- Oral pain medications
- Anticonvulsant medications
- Topical pain medications
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Steroid injections
- Braces or splints
- Physical therapy
- Lidocaine pain patches
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
If these conservative therapies don’t successfully alleviate your pain, Dr. Kumar may recommend several minimally invasive treatments, including spinal cord stimulation, and nerve blocks.
Nerve blocks
For some patients, Dr. Kumar can use nerve blocks to provide pain relief for several months at a time. Dr. Kumar injects medications into or around your nerves or your spine linked to the source of your pain.
Spinal cord stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) uses mild electrical pulses to block, disrupt, or change, the signals from the neural receptors near your spine so they don’t reach your brain. Dr. Kumar would recommend the SCS if your pain has not responded to any other treatment and you prefer a drug free solution.
Don’t wait to get help for painful neuropathy! Get started with surgery-free treatment by contacting Dr. Kumar at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center over the phone or using our online booking system.