Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that results in nerve damage, affecting the feet and legs. This health issue often leads to symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness. Here’s how a pain management clinic can contribute to the care of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN):
Diagnosis
A qualified doctor at a pain management clinic assesses a patient’s medical history, symptoms, and the extent of neuropathy. Detailed information about the patient’s medical history includes the duration and progression of diabetes. A physical examination can include reviewing sensory function, reflexes, and muscle strength in feet and legs. A doctor also performs a neurologic exam, which may include testing for sensation, proprioception, and vibration perception.
Nerve conduction studies and electromyography help assess the speed of nerve signals and detect abnormalities in muscle activity. In some cases, nerve imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging or high-resolution ultrasound, can visualize the nerves and identify compression or structural abnormalities. Your doctor can also request blood work to determine other potential neuropathy causes, such as vitamin deficiencies or autoimmune conditions.
Medication
To manage neuropathic pain associated with DPN, doctors can prescribe antidepressants, such as duloxetine and nortriptyline. Pain management experts can also prescribe anti-seizure medications, including gabapentin and pregabalin. Such medications help modulate nerve signaling and reduce damaged nerves’ abnormal firing.
DPN patients can apply capsaicin cream topically to the skin to alleviate pain. This topical medication works by desensitizing nerve receptors in the skin. With regular monitoring, adjustments, and close communication with the healthcare provider, pharmacological intervention for diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be an effective treatment solution.
Interventional Procedures
Experienced doctors can utilize epidural injections, which involve injecting medication into the epidural space around the spinal cord to reduce inflammation and pain. They can also use spinal cord stimulation, which encompasses implanting a device that delivers electrical impulses to the spinal cord. These impulses interfere with the transmission of pain signals, providing relief for patients with DPN.
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) entails the implantation of electrodes near peripheral nerves to deliver electrical stimulation. PNS can be targeted to specific nerves involved in DPN to alleviate pain. With radiofrequency ablation, a doctor sedates a patient and sends a radio wave through a probe to heat the targeted nerve, preventing the nerve from sending pain signals.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists design targeted exercises to strengthen muscles that may weaken due to neuropathy. This often includes exercises for the lower extremities, emphasizing the muscles involved in walking, standing, and maintaining balance. Incorporating gentle stretching exercises helps enhance joint flexibility, preventing stiffness and reducing the risk of injury. Therapists focus on functional mobility exercises, helping individuals with DPN maintain or regain the ability to climb stairs or get up from a chair.
Schedule With a Pain Management Clinic Today
For patients with DPN, a pain management clinic can offer medications, interventional procedures, physical therapy, and diagnosis. Qualified doctors evaluate each patient’s condition comprehensively, allowing for a personalized treatment plan. To manage diabetic peripheral neuropathy, contact a reputable clinic to learn more about their pain management services.
