Neuropathy

If you’ve noticed prolonged tingling or numbness in your extremities, you might have neuropathy, a condition that affects the proper functioning of your peripheral nervous system. At Florida Medical Pain Management in St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, or Spring Hill, Florida, the team of dedicated pain management professionals provides excellent diagnostic and treatment services. To learn more, schedule a visit today by calling the office nearest you or booking an appointment online.

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What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy refers to a damage or malfunctioning in your peripheral nervous system, which is responsible for sending information back and forth between your body and your brain.

Your peripheral nervous system has a number of particular functions, like:

  • Receiving sensations from your skin, like pain, touch, and temperature
  • Controlling muscle movement
  • Controlling autonomic functions like digestion, blood pressure, and your heart rate

Neuropathy can affect one or many of these functions.

Neuropathy

What are the symptoms of neuropathy?

Because there is such a wide variety of functions for your peripheral nervous system, neuropathy can manifest itself with a wide range of symptoms, including:

  • Weakness in your muscles or paralysis
  • Burning, stabbing, or tingling pain
  • A persistent prickling, tingling, or numbness in your hands, feet, arms, or legs
  • Increased sensitivity to touch
  • Intolerance to heat
  • Problems with sweating too much or too little
  • Digestive issues, or bowel and bladder malfunctions
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness from changes in blood pressure
  • Feeling like there’s a covering over your hands or feet
  • Pain in situations that shouldn’t cause pain, like light touching on your skin

Diagnosing and treating your condition early helps in controlling your symptoms and protecting your nerves from further damage, so schedule an appointment with Florida Medical Pain Management immediately if you’re experiencing any of these conditions.

What causes neuropathy?

Neuropathy isn’t a disease in and of itself, but rather the condition of having a damaged peripheral nervous system. Your peripheral nervous system can become damaged by:

  • Alcoholism
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Bone marrow disorders
  • Chemotherapy
  • Diabetes
  • Infections
  • Inherited disorders
  • Ingesting poisons
  • Tumors
  • Vitamin deficiencies

Neuropathy can also be caused by physical trauma or pressure on your nerve. Accidents, like car collisions or sports injuries, frequently lead to neuropathy.

How do you treat this condition?

The team at Florida Medical Pain Management first diagnoses your condition with a neurological exam and other tests, like an electromyogram or a nerve biopsy.

Some of the more popular treatments for neuropathy include:

  • Pain relievers
  • Anti-seizure mediations
  • Platelet-rich plasma therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Surgery, if your condition is caused by a foreign object putting pressure on your nerves

To learn more about how Florida Medical Pain Management can treat your neuropathy, schedule a consultation today by calling the office or booking a visit online.

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