NEUROPATHY
INNOVATIVE TREATMENT FOR PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
The integrative medical doctors and pain specialists at Renova Medical Center take a unique and comprehensive approach to treating the underlying cause of peripheral neuropathy so you can get relief from the painful symptoms.
This area is dedicated to providing information for patients who suffer with neuropathy! We know that you have likely went from provider to provider and have found few answers. We know that many of your providers have told you that there is nothing that can be done, that you are going to have to live with the pain. I also know that we see patients every day in our clinic that are finding relief from the debilitating issues that arise from peripheral neuropathy. Please take the time to explore the information below and begin finding the answers that you have been looking for!
We are using comprehensive testing and advanced FDA cleared technology to help neuropathy patients. If you would like to talk with our team about your case, please call our clinic at (573) 338-5638 to reserve a consultation time to learn more.
​
WHAT IS PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY?
Peripheral Neuropathy is the term for damage to nerves of the system, which may be caused either by diseases of the pinched nerves, or from the side-effects of systemic illness. We have about 20+ million peripheral Neuropathy cases in this country alone.
​The four cardinal patterns of peripheral neuropathy are polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex and autonomic neuropathy. The most common form is (symmetrical) peripheral polyneuropathy, which mainly affects the feet and legs. Frequently, we are told the cause of their neuropathy cannot be identified and it is designated “idiopathic”. We believe there is always a cause and finding it is what keeps problems away. We leave no stone unturned to get to the root cause of your symptoms. The good news is you can start getting relief right away. When we find the cause you can help keep it away!
TESTIMONIAL
“I haven’t slept well at all and the burning and tingling is just miserable. Nothing seems to help for long. It really hurts, plus I feel tired and groggy all the time from the medication…”
These are the some of the most common things patients say when afflicted with peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is really just a fancy word for nerve “damage.” It can be caused by many things, most commonly we hear from “unknown” causes. It could be diabetes, chemotherapy, and smoking, cholesterol-lowering medication, and perhaps even over-the-counter self-medication and dietary supplements. The one common trait in peripheral neuropathy cases is INFLAMMATION.
​Neuropathy may be associated with varying combinations of weakness, autonomic changes and sensory changes. Loss of muscle bulk or “twitching of muscle” may be seen. Sensory symptoms include loss of sensation or extra sensation including pain, tingling or burning. Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that results from your nerves getting damaged. One or more types of nerves may be affected. Common symptoms associated with damage to the motor nerve are muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms. Loss of balance and coordination may also occur. Damage to the sensory nerve can produce tingling, numbness, and chronic pain. Pain associated with this nerve is described in various ways such as the following: sensation of wearing an invisible “glove” or “sock”, burning, freezing, or electric-like and extreme sensitivity to touch. The autonomic nerve damage causes problems with involuntary (you’re not in control of) functions leading to symptoms such as abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, reduced ability to perspire, constipation, bladder dysfunction (e.g., incontinence), and sexual dysfunction.
​We have also started seeing patients developing compression neuropathy, such as carpal tunnel, chronic sciatica and back pain and nerve damage associated with conditions like degenerative spinal disc disease and spinal stenosis.
WHAT CAUSES NERUOPATHY?
-
Diabetes
-
Chemotherapy
-
Certain medications
-
High Alcohol Usage
-
Certain infections
-
Tumors
-
Trauma
-
Low Back Issues
HISTORICAL MEDICAL TREATMENT
Because analgesics (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen) are usually ineffective against pain caused by neuropathy, treatment often involves medications that target nerve cells.
​Duloxetine hydrochloride (Cymbalta®) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Common side effects include constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, and nausea. In some cases, Cymbalta® causes dizziness and hot flashes.
​Although anticonvulsants such as gabapentin (Neurontin®) and Topiramate (Topamax®) and antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil®) are not approved by the FDA to treat neuropathy, they are often prescribed to treat this condition. Side effects of these drugs include drowsiness, dizziness, low blood pressure, and fatigue.
​Other medications include anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine [Tegretol®], lamotrigine [Lamictal®]), local anesthetics (e.g., lidocaine [Xylocaine®]), and antiarrhythmics (e.g., mexiletine [Mexitil®]). Anticonvulsants may cause low white blood cell counts, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Side effects of lidocaine and mexiletine include nervousness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, and double vision.
​Topical treatment with capsaicin cream (Zostrix®) may be prescribed for patients with focal neuropathy. Capsaicin causes stinging upon application and is often combined with a local anesthetic to reduce this side effect. Axsain® (.25% capsaicin in Lidocare® vehicle) contains a higher dose of capsaicin in a cream that reduces stinging and burning. Lidoderm® (lidocaine patch 5%) has been shown to be helpful for localized areas of tingling or burning.
​Pregabalin (Lyrica®) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles pain). Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, weight gain, and swelling (edema).
These medications are not meant to cure!
The problem is they do not fix your condition – they only cover symptoms
THE RENOVA DIFFERENCE
01
HOW BAD ARE YOU?
Your exam will include a standardized test known as THE PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY TORONTO SCORING TEST. This test compares several sensations between that of the feet compared to a part of the body that has normal sensation. A normal score is 74. What would your score be? There are a thousand shades of numbness and it has been my experience that most people with nerve damage are worse off than they think because they have gradually and unperceptively lost their feeling. Having the peripheral neuropathy Toronto scoring test allows us to see how much damage has been done AND to see how much progress you are making during treatment. We also offer nerve biopsies to visually be able to count how many nerves you have left in a specific area. These biopsies can be done after treatment as well to visually show nerves that have been able to regrown in that area.
02
OUR APPROACH
In some cases, medication is the sole remedy for the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, but the integrative medical team at Renova Medical Center offer a more holistic, comprehensive approach to treating both your symptoms and the underlying causes of your neuropathy. We use comprehensive testing and advanced FDA cleared technology to treat the whole patient and dig to find the underlying cause of the issues.
03
ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
-
How has your condition affected your relationships, finances, family, or other activities?
-
What has it cost you in time, money, happiness, and sleep?
-
Where do you picture yourself in the next one to five years if this problem is not taken care of soon?
-
What is it worth to you if we could improve your condition?
-
Are you willing to make some simple changes that will dramatically change your life?
We take pride in healing patients get their quality of life back from this debilitating disease. But we can’t help you unless you take the first step!
​Please call now (573) 338-5638. Schedule your consultation and let’s meet and discuss what can be done.
04
DECISION TIME
Right now you have a few choices:
You can do nothing or continue to do whatever you have been doing, but has that been working for you? Why else would you be reading this information?
You can call our office now at (573) 338-5638 and schedule your consultation to learn more and see if our approach to treating neuropathy can help you.