Book Appointment
M
M
If you have any questions, contact us below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
We Can Help
Neuropathy Pain Treatment

Neuropathy Pain Relief

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition caused when nerves that carry signals to and from the brain and spinal cord become damaged or diseased in some way. These damaged nerves interrupt communication between the brain and other parts of the body, causing nerve pain, preventing normal levels of sensation in the arms and legs, and impairing muscle movement.

Neuropathies are, in fact, very common, especially in people over age 55. Approximately 3-4% of people over 55 experience some form of neuropathy in their lives. Most peripheral neuropathies are progressive, so getting comprehensive early treatment is highly recommended. Though most neuropathies are considered incurable, there are many treatment options, including neuropathy surgery, that can help you feel considerably better and successfully manage your condition.

If you suffer from the life-altering pain of peripheral neuropathy, you’ve probably tried all sorts of remedies to find relief. Luckily, you’ve finally come to the right place. Tim Tollestrup, MD, provides neuropathy surgery in Las Vegas that can help you finally leave your nerve pain behind and get back to all the activities you love.

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy can set in gradually or suddenly. It commonly affects the feet and hands. Symptoms generally are worse at night or with activity.

Here are some signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy you should look out for:

Numbness
Loss of balance leading to falls
Tingling
Muscle weakness
Extreme sensitivity to touch
Feeling as if you’re wearing gloves or socks when you are not
Lack of coordination

Nerve compression is often at the root of neuropathy symptoms

Neuropathy symptoms can be caused when nerves becomes pinched, compressed, swollen or enlarged along their course through the body, typically at tight spaces like in the wrist. This can be due to repetitive use/injury/trauma (such as in carpel tunnel syndrome) or through metabolic processes (as in diabetic neuropathy).

Nerve decompression surgery can help relieve the pressure placed on the affected nerves and ease the suffering of peripheral neuropathy patients.

Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a multitude of factors, both genetic and environmental, such as trauma, illness, injury, and toxins.

Less common are inherited neuropathies that pass from parent to child, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1. Sometimes, the source of a neuropathy is unknown. These are called idiopathic neuropathies. About 30% of all neuropathies are classified as idiopathic.

Some examples of environmental causes of peripheral neuropathy include:
Diabetes
Cancer and chemotherapy
Alcoholism
Medication
Thyroid disorders
Infections such as Lyme disease, AIDS or shingles
Nutritional deficiencies

Treatments for Peripheral Neuropathy

Traditionally, there have been no good treatment options for the pain and numbness associated with peripheral neuropathy. Most neuropathy patients are given pain medication. These medications are often ineffective and can produce unwanted side effects. Medications and spinal nerve blocks can reduce or mask the pain of neuropathy, but they do not address the root cause.

Our office sees so many neuropathy patients who have visited a multitude of doctors in their search for relief, including physical therapists, chiropractors, alternative medicine practitioners and more trying to find relief.

The good news is that, for people with peripheral neuropathy caused by nerve compression, surgical procedures may permanently relieve the pain, numbness, and weakness they have been experiencing. This is an exciting, revolutionary development in the treatment of peripheral nerve pain.

How does neuropathy surgery work?

On the day of your neuropathy surgery, you’ll be put under general anesthesia while your procedure is performed. One or more small surgical incisions will be made to access the area where the damaged nerve resides, based on your physical exam findings. Through these incisions, your doctor will be able to access the area where the nerve is compressed and make minor yet effective alterations to the tissue surrounding the affected nerve, allowing it the “breathing room” it needs to heal. In some cases, the nerves may need to be divided and rerouted to relieve the pain and symptoms of neuropathy.

Surgery for nerve pain is outpatient, so you’ll need someone to drive you home and care for you in the hours after surgery while your anesthesia wears off. Recovery time for neuropathy surgery is between two and four weeks, and you’ll be able to resume most of your regular activities shortly after surgery, depending on the location of the damaged nerve or nerves and other factors. Your doctor will discuss your custom treatment and recovery plan with you before surgery.

Success rate of neuropathy surgery

The success rate for neuropathy surgery is approximately 80%. “Success” typically means complete resolution of the pain and numbness associated with peripheral neuropathy. For people who respond to the surgery, these changes are permanent.
Call now for an appointment to see how we may be able to help
(702) 666-0463
Related Posts

Peripheral Neuropathy Success Stories

See how we’ve helped change the lives of some of our patients. Hear their stories below:
Barbara Beats Peripheral Neuropathy Thanks to Nerve Decompression Surgeries
Barbara beats peripheral neuropathy with nerve decompression surgery.
Read More
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there different types of peripheral neuropathy?

Mononeuropathy means damage of a single nerve, usually as the result or injury or trauma. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a mononeuropathy caused by repetitive motion in the hand and wrist.

Polyneuropathy, the most common form of peripheral neuropathy, is the damage of multiple nerves at the same time. One of the most common forms of polyneuropathy is diabetic neuropathy.

Dr. Tim Tollestrup and his team can help. Call us at 702-666-0463 to set up a consultation to determine your options.