Peripheral neuropathy results from nerve damage caused by chronic high blood sugar or diabetes. It can lead to several miserable symptoms affecting the feet, legs, and/or hands, including loss of sensation, numbness, and/or pain.

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

Losing sensation in hands, legs, feet or toes is quite common among patients suffering from diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Early-onset symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include –

• Prickling

• Pins and needles

• Numbness

• Deep stabbing pain

• Pinching

• Cramping

• Muscle weakness — if blood sugar levels remain consistently high, patients may experience muscle weakness when trying to walk or stand up.

• Balance problems — muscle damage can lead to balance issues.

Spinal Cord Stimulation Treatment for Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy

Spinal cord stimulation is a highly effective, cutting-edge treatment to relieve chronic neuropathic pain as in diabetic neuropathy), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and failed back surgery.

In spinal cord stimulation treatment, an electrode is placed in the epidural space at the level of the nerve roots that transmit the pain information from the affected area. The epidural lead is connected to a battery producing an electrical current. The current causes paraesthesia, a sensation that suppresses the pain. Patients are able to increase or decrease the intensity of the electric current with the help of a device that uses radio frequency transmission.

Advantages of Spinal Cord Stimulation

The treatment uses an implant to transmit mild electrical impulses to the spinal cord. The mild electrical stimulation prevents the feeling of pain and improves quality of life for neuropathic patients. As many as 70% of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy, as stated by the National Institutes of Health.

• With the use of spinal cord stimulation treatment, patients can reduce or even do away with the use of pain medications.

• Spinal Cord Stimulation is a reversible therapy. If the patient no longer wants to use the stimulator implant, it can be removed easily.

• Spinal Cord Stimulation puts the patient in control of the implant. It gives you the ability to adjust the amount of medication.

• Spinal cord stimulation treatment can reduce overall pain by 50-70%, significantly improving the quality of life.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and are confused about the types of pain relief treatments available, seek the top pain management doctors.

If you have any questions about peripheral neuropathy and / or interventional pain management in Arizona, call the top pain management doctors at Desert Interventional Spine Consultants at 480-838-1914. DISC is committed to providing the highest quality spine care with cutting edge interventional pain treatments and precise diagnostic tests.