Neuropathy

More than 20 million Americans live with some level of peripheral neuropathy. At Union Anesthesia Associates, with offices in Union, Scotch Plains, Bloomfield, South Bound Brook, New Brunswick, Old Bridge, and Woodbridge, New Jersey, nonsurgical treatments are available to ease the chronic pain, tingling, and numbness that neuropathy causes. The board-certified anesthesiologists can prescribe medications and recommend lifestyle changes to increase your comfort. They also perform minimally invasive procedures like radiofrequency ablation to provide lasting pain relief. Call the Union Anesthesia Associates office nearest you today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for neuropathy symptoms or book your consultation online.

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nervous system. Your peripheral nerves send sensations to your central nervous system (your spinal cord and brain).

Peripheral neuropathy often results from unmanaged diabetes. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels damage nerve fibers and lead to various complications.

Your risk of peripheral neuropathy increases due to:

• Infections
• Injuries
• Metabolic disorders
• Genetic conditions
• Exposure to toxins

Union Anesthesia Associates offers comprehensive pain management for neuropathy. The board-certified anesthesiologists offer nonsurgical treatments to ease pain and other neuropathy symptoms.

What are the symptoms of neuropathy?

Neuropathy symptoms vary depending on which of your peripheral nerves have been damaged.

Sensory nerve damage

Your sensory nerves receive sensations like touch, pain, and temperature throughout the body. Sensory nerve damage can lead to throbbing or stabbing pain, numbness, pins and needles sensations, and increased sensitivity to touch.

Motor nerves

Your motor nerves control the movement of your muscles. Symptoms of motor nerve damage can include muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and loss of muscle movement.

Autonomic nerves

Your autonomic nerves control unconscious functions like digestion, blood pressure, and heart rate. Symptoms of autonomic nerve damage include excessive sweating, heat intolerance, and digestive problems. You could also experience dizziness due to drops in your blood pressure.

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Union Anesthesia Associates if you develop tingling, pain, or other neuropathy symptoms. Early medical intervention can prevent further nerve damage and lower your risk of chronic health complications.

The providers complete a physical exam and could order nerve function tests or diagnostic imaging tests to identify inflamed, compressed, or damaged nerves.

How is neuropathy treated?

Union Anesthesia Associates offers personalized treatment plans to relieve the symptoms of neuropathy and improve the function of your peripheral nervous system.

The providers could recommend one or more strategies like:

• Topical anesthetics
• Oral pain relievers
• Physical therapy
• Radiofrequency ablation

If you suffer from severe or chronic pain that isn’t manageable with nonsurgical treatments, the team can determine if you’re a candidate for spinal cord stimulation.

A spinal cord stimulator delivers low electrical currents to the damaged nerves to block pain signals from traveling to your brain. You control the stimulator with an external remote to disrupt pain sensations as they happen.

Call the Union Anesthesia Associates office nearest you today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for neuropathy symptoms or book an appointment online.