Neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that’s estimated to affect more than 20 million Americans. Many people are at risk and don’t even know it due to overlapping conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disease, cancer, spinal trauma, and even shingles.
Ajay Kumar, MD, diagnoses and treats neuropathy for patients in and around Hackettstown, New Jersey, and Matamoras, Pennsylvania, at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center. He can help find ways to relieve symptoms and educate you about lifestyle choices to reduce the risk of neuropathy getting worse.
Neuropathy happens when nerves are damaged and start sending mixed signals to the brain. Some of the most common causes of nerve damage include diabetes, certain types of autoimmune illnesses, alcoholism, cancer, and trauma to the spine.
The protective sheath around your nerve (myelin) or the synapses (nerve signal generators) can be damaged. This causes messages to your brain to change, leading to a wide range of symptoms.
The most prevalent type of neuropathy is peripheral neuropathy, affecting some of the nerves furthest from the brain in your arms, hands, legs, and feet.
Your peripheral nervous system includes sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves, and you can have various neuropathic symptoms, depending on the precise cause and how severe the damage is. Symptoms of neuropathy include:
Many people have neuropathy symptoms for years before getting a diagnosis. If you’re experiencing symptoms of neuropathy, don’t wait to see a specialist — you should never ignore neuropathic symptoms because they can be a sign that an underlying condition is getting worse.
Dr. Kumar recommends a treatment plan based on what’s causing your neuropathy, what it’s affecting, and how bad your symptoms are.
If you have a chronic disease that is causing your symptoms, he works with you to control your condition. For example, keeping blood sugar levels under control helps reduce neuropathic symptoms caused by diabetes.
If you experience frequent or constant discomfort or pain caused by neuropathy, he can prescribe medications to help dampen these signals between your nerves and brain. He also offers spinal cord stimulation (SCS) — an implanted medical device that delivers mild electrical impulses — for chronic neuropathic pain.
Are you experiencing symptoms of neuropathy, or do you have a condition that increases your risk? Pay attention to your symptoms, and don’t delay getting a medical evaluation.
Contact New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center today for a consultation with Dr. Kumar to learn how to manage your condition more effectively and discuss possible treatments.
