How Did I Get Neuropathy?

Worldwide, almost 2.5% of people experience peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy can cause burning pain, numbness, or tingling, indicating nerve damage outside your brain and spinal cord. You might experience motor symptoms like trouble moving an affected body part. 

Pain management experts can treat neuropathy using today’s most advanced pain therapies. At Pain Management Associates LLC in Greenbelt, Maryland, medical director Haddis T. Hagos, MD, and the team find the root cause of your neuropathy symptoms so they can recommend the most effective treatment plan. 

Are you wondering how you got neuropathy and what you can do to reduce pain and discomfort? Here’s what you should know. 

The most common cause of neuropathy

Diabetes, when unmanaged or poorly managed, is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy develops when high levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood injure various nerves in your body, typically starting in your feet. 

While many people with diabetic neuropathy start out with symptoms in their extremities, they can also experience other signs of nerve damage. Nerve damage related to diabetes can cause: 

• Touch sensitivity
• Digestive issues
• Muscle weakness
• Cramps
• Foot ulcers
• Trouble swallowing
• Vision changes
• Sexual dysfunction

If you have diabetic neuropathy, the best thing you can do to manage it is to treat the underlying diabetes. Follow your doctor’s instructions for glucose monitoring, which may involve watching what you eat and taking medications like insulin to manage your blood sugar. 

Other common neuropathy causes

Not all neuropathy is diabetic. If you have neuropathy but have ruled out diabetes as a potential cause, the team at Pain Management Associates LLC can help you explore other possible causes. 

You might experience neuropathy-related numbness, tingling, burning, pain, or weakness due to:

• A nutrient imbalance
• Alcohol use disorder
• Cancer or cancer treatments (including chemotherapy)
• An inflammatory or autoimmune disease
• Tissue injuries
• Tissue damage from a past surgery
• Unknown reasons (this is called idiopathic neuropathy)

Some neuropathy is more challenging to treat than other cases. When possible, the first step is to manage the underlying condition causing your neuropathy to alleviate symptoms. 

How pain management specialists treat neuropathy

Pain Management Associates LLC provides personalized neuropathy treatment that focuses on the underlying cause. As part of your treatment plan, the team may recommend in-office therapies that aim to reduce specific symptoms like pain. 

Some neuropathy therapies available in the office focus on calming or reducing signals from aggravated or damaged nerves. Nerve blocks, for example, target specific nerves at the source of your pain using injected medication. 

Similarly, radiofrequency neurolysis uses powerful radiofrequency energy to reduce pain coming from targeted nerves. 

Dr. Hagos and the team can walk you through your neuropathy treatment options based on your symptoms and your neuropathy’s cause. Call Pain Management Associates LLC or request an appointment online for expert neuropathy diagnosis and treatment today.