Neuropathy Specialist

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a term describing symptoms caused by damaged peripheral nerves. These are the nerves that travel from your spinal cord (part of your central nervous system along with your brain) all around your body. They transmit messages to your central nervous system, which is how you sense heat, cold, pain, and other sensations.

One of the functions of your peripheral nervous system is to warn your brain that you face some kind of threat. You usually feel this as pain, a sensation so unpleasant it forces you to act to prevent further harm.

If your peripheral nerves malfunction or suffer any kind of damage, you could feel a variety of sensations such as tingling, prickling, burning, or numbness, as well as pain. Mononeuropathy is where only one nerve is affected; polyneuropathy involves multiple nerves.

What causes neuropathy?

Neuropathy can arise for many reasons, including:

• Nerve compression
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Infections
• Trauma
• Autoimmune disorders
• A side effect of chemotherapy

Neuropathy can be a complication of certain diseases, for example, diabetic peripheral neuropathy if you have diabetes and postherpetic neuralgia when you have shingles.

Idiopathic neuropathy occurs when there's no identifiable cause for your symptoms, and the nerves are simply malfunctioning. As there are such diverse causes for neuropathy, it's important for Dr. Tesfaye to determine why you have this condition, so he can provide the most effective treatment.

How is neuropathy diagnosed?

Diagnosing the cause of your neuropathy requires a comprehensive exam and analysis of your symptoms. It's helpful for Dr. Tesfaye to know about your lifestyle, home and work environments, and any issues like chronic stress. He also looks through your medical history.

Following the initial exam, you might need to undergo further testing. This could include a blood draw or other lab work, diagnostic imaging such as an MRI or CT scan, or electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests to assess your nerve function.

What treatments can help with neuropathy?

Dr. Tesfaye designs your personalized treatment plan around the cause of your condition and factors like the severity and nature of your symptoms. Potential therapies might include:

• Pain-relieving medications
• Low dose tricyclic antidepressants
• Antiseizure drugs
• Physical therapy
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulation

Switching to healthier habits, such as getting regular exercise, eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet, and learning to handle stress can all help to improve your overall health and reduce symptoms. If you have an underlying condition like diabetes, it's important to manage your condition effectively with your primary care provider or endocrinologist.

If you're dealing with neuropathy, get the help you need by calling Atlanta Neuro Care today or booking an appointment online.