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Understanding Two Common Types of Neuropathy

Understanding Two Common Types of Neuropathy

When you were a little kid, the adults in your life probably told you not to touch the hot stove. Even if they hadn’t, though, a mere second of contact would have been enough for your body to learn a quick, valuable lesson. Touching something so hot would trigger your nerves to send immediate warning signals to your brain. You would pull your hand back quickly because the communication system in your body got the right message to your brain, and fast.

You can thank your nerves for that. If you have neuropathy, though, certain nerves stop working the way they should. And that can lead to a whole host of problems, from numbness to pain when you shouldn’t hurt. 

Here at our North Central Texas Foot & Ankle offices in Roanoke and Decatur, Texas, Samantha Childers, DPM, and Ricky Childers, DPM, offer diagnosis and care for neuropathy so you can get relief. 

To help you understand this condition — and when it might be time to book an appointment with us — let’s look at two common types of neuropathy. 

Mechanical neuropathy

Also called compressive neuropathy, this nerve problem develops when the nerves in your low back get squeezed. This causes low back pain and muscular weakness in the surrounding area. You might develop this kind of neuropathy after a low back injury or because of a separate health condition like arthritis. 

Diabetic neuropathy

As many as half of all people who develop diabetes will get nerve problems as a result of their condition. This is called diabetic neuropathy, and it happens because the high sugar levels in your blood damage your nerves over time. 

Diabetic neuropathy most commonly affects your feet and legs, causing shooting or burning pain, tingling, or numbness. 

That loss of sensation factors into the majority of diabetic amputations. You don’t realize your foot is hurt, and a wound festers, leading to complications. As a result, if you have diabetes, it’s important that you check your feet regularly. 

Getting relief from neuropathy

Whichever type of neuropathy is affecting you, we can help. We tailor your treatment plan to you. It might include conservative options like physical therapy and medical-grade supplements or regenerative medicine.

If your neuropathy doesn’t respond to conservative treatments, Dr. Ricky Childers offers nerve surgery. This allows him to directly address the nerve problem. If the nerve is entrapped or compressed, for example, he can correct it to give you lasting relief.

Don’t ignore tingling, numbness, or unexplained pain. To see if you could be living with a nerve problem, call or message one of our offices today to schedule an appointment.

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