Suffering From Neuropathy? We Can Help

In this post, we’ll be describing what neuropathy is and the specific ways in which we provide neuropathy treatment in Pocatello.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a condition in which various nerves malfunction. These include:

• Sensory nerves (resulting in tingling, numbness, and pain)
• Autonomic nerves (resulting in loss of bladder control, unnecessary or excessive sweating, and rapid heart rate)

Depending on the type and/or location of the affected nerves, different neuropathic classifications can be assigned. Another classifying factor could be the disease that created the neuropathic condition.

Neuropathic Classifications

• Focal Neuropathy: A condition affecting a single nerve or a group of nerves, or one specific part of the body.
• Cranial Neuropathy: A condition affecting the 12 nerves that exit the brain. There are two types of cranial neuropathy, optical neuropathy (damage to the nerve that sends signals from the eye to the brain) and auditory neuropathy (damage to the nerve that carries signals from the inner ear to the brain).
• Autonomic Neuropathy: A condition affecting the involuntary nervous system, the control center for basic survival mechanisms like a heartbeat, blood circulation, gastrointestinal and bladder function, perspiration, and sexual response.
• Peripheral Neuropathy: A condition affecting nerves in the peripheral nervous system responsible for movement in the extremities – arms, hands, legs, and feet.

We offer neuropathy treatment in Pocatello for all four neuropathic disorders.

Causes

• Tumors
• Physical trauma
• Toxins and poisons
• Some drugs and medications
• Genes
• Infections
• Diabetes
• Vitamin deficiencies

Symptoms

• Pain and numbness/tingling (usually beginning in the feet, later moving upward towards the body’s center)
• Sensitivity to touch
• Heat intolerance and an inability to sweat
• Blurred vision
• Diminished motor function (this is due to an inability to determine the position of the joints)
• Nausea and vomiting
• After-meal bloating
• Urinary problems (this could be either difficulty urinating or incontinence)
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Sexual dysfunction (for men, impotence; for women, difficulty lubricating)

Treatment

We offer a number of different neuropathy treatments in Pocatello, including:

• Sympathetic Nerve Blocks – These block nerve signals. Depending on the location of your pain, the nerve block will be administered at a specific area of the spine. For instance, if you are experiencing pain in an upper region of your body, the nerve block will be administered in the neck.
• Spinal Cord Stimulation – Similar to a pacemaker, a neural stimulator is a device that is surgically implanted under the skin (usually in the abdomen or upper buttocks). It delivers mild electrical impulses from the device to the spine over thin, insulated medical wires. These electrical impulses reach your brain before the pain signals, thus “overriding” them.
• DRG Stimulation – Ganglions are bundles of nerves in the spine that send signals to the brain. Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulators consist of electrical leads and a pulse generator to permit focused electrical therapy to a specific area. DRG Stimulation includes a hand-held controller that can switch between stimulation settings.
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulation – Our neuropathy treatment in Pocatello includes PNS. This involves the surgical implantation of a small electrical device next to one of the peripheral nerves which deliver rapid electrical pulses (these feel like mild tingles). Our patients can control the level of stimulation by turning the device on and off, as well as adjusting the stimulation parameters.