About 50% of diabetic people experience diabetic neuropathy. Some people have mild symptoms. However, for others, diabetic neuropathy can be quite a painful and disabling condition. If you are looking for treatment for neuropathy in Webster, read on.
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can happen to diabetic people. High blood sugar or glucose can injure the nerves throughout the body, but it mainly affects the legs and feet.
Types of Neuropathies and Its Symptoms
Diabetic neuropathy symptoms often include pain and numbness in the legs, feet, and hands. It can also cause problems with the digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels, and heart.
There are four main types of diabetic neuropathy. You can have one type or more and your symptoms will depend on the type you have and which nerves are affected. Usually, symptoms develop slowly and gradually
Peripheral neuropathy
Also known as distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy, it’s the most common type of diabetic neuropathy. It first affects the feet and legs, followed by the hands and arms. Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are often worse at night:
- Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain (or temperature changes)
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Tingling or burning feeling
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Cramps or sharp pain
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Muscle weakness
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Extreme sensitivity to touch
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Serious foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, and bone and joint damage
Autonomic neuropathy
The autonomic nervous system controls blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, eyes, bladder, digestive system, and sex organs. The symptoms affect nerves in any of these areas, including:
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A lack of awareness of low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia unawareness)
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Blood pressure drops when rising from sitting or lying down which may cause dizziness or fainting
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Bladder or bowel problems
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Slow stomach emptying that causes nausea, vomiting, sensation of fullness and loss of appetite
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Difficulty swallowing
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Changes in the way the eyes adjust to lightening
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Increased or decreased sweating
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Problems with sexual response, such as vaginal dryness in women and erectile dysfunction in men
Proximal neuropathy (diabetic polyradiculopathy)
This type of neuropathy often affects nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks, or legs. It can also affect the abdominal and chest area. Symptoms are usually on one side of the body but can spread to the other side. Proximal neuropathy symptoms may include:
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Severe pain in the buttock, hip or thigh
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Weak and shrinking thigh muscles
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Difficulty rising from a sitting position
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Chest or abdominal pain
Mononeuropathy (focal neuropathy)
Mononeuropathy refers to damage to a single, specific nerve. The nerve may be in the face, torso, arm, or leg. Mononeuropathy may lead to:
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Difficulty focusing or double vision
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Paralysis on one side of the face
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Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers
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Weakness in the hand that may result in dropping things
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Pain in the shin or foot
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Weakness that causes difficulty lifting the front part of the foot
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Pain in the front of the thigh
Possible Courses of Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy in Webster, Texas
- Control of blood sugar levels: Symptoms of pain and burning may improve when blood glucose levels improve.
- Lifestyle interventions, specifically diet and exercise: The goal is to achieve and maintain normal body weight with a nutrient-dense diet. Exercise should consist of at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activities, such as brisk walking, at least three times per week.
- Taking care of your feet: Keeping feet clean and dry, moisturizing them, wearing clean dry socks and cushioned shoes that fit well as well as visiting a podiatrist.
- Medication for pain management: Neuropathic pain can be difficult to control and can seriously affect your quality of life. Neuropathic pain is worse at night and can seriously disrupt your sleep. Several medications are approved and used for diabetic neuropathy including anticonvulsants, monoamine reuptake inhibitors, and antidepressants.
- Spinal cord stimulation interrupts signals sent from the nerves in your spine to your brain. Pain-interrupting signals are sent out from a battery-operated device (the spinal cord stimulator) that a pain medicine doctor implants under the skin.
Book Your Appointment with Us
At Space City Pain Specialists, our board-certified providers specialize in treating diabetic neuropathy symptoms. With personalized programs that focus on comprehensive care and cutting-edge technology, we have been pioneers in pain management in the Webster community since 2004. What’s more, we also serve League City, Texas City, Clear Lake, Friendswood, and surrounding areas. If you are looking for a treatment for diabetic neuropathy in Webster, Texas call us at 281-338-443 or click here.