Diabetic Foot Care & Neuropathy

Neuropathy is damage or interruption of the nerves in the feet and legs that can cause burning, tingling, numbness, pain and difficulty with balance and gait.

To properly diagnose patients with neuropathy, we use special testing equipment at our Nerve Pain Center, the first of its kind in the region.

Conservative methods of treatment include:

• Nerve blocks
• MLS Laser Treatment
• ESTIM, which can be used for chronic pain when neuropathy is in its early stages or for patients who are not a candidate for surgical intervention

If the neuropathy has progressed to the point where there is numbness and tingling throughout the day and weakness interferes with daily activities, then you might be a candidate for a new surgical procedure: nerve decompression surgery.

• Nerve decompression surgery is particularly suited to the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and has an 80-90% improvement rate
• The surgery is also beneficial for non-diabetic neuropathy, and provides similar results

Nerve Compression Can Cause Neuropathy

Dr. Lee Dellon, professor of neurosurgery and plastic surgery at John Hopkins University, discovered in 1988 that a diabetic’s nerves were subject to compression and swelling in areas that were anatomically tight, such as the inside of the ankle, and that this compression could cause the symptoms of neuropathy.

There are two reasons why a diabetic’s nerves are subject to compression:

• The tendency of a diabetic’s nerves to swell. The by-product of sugar attracts water molecules, which are drawn into the nerve and causes it to swell. If a nerve swells in a place that is already tight, then the nerve becomes pinched, or compressed.
• Faulty transport systems within the diabetic nerve. These are believed to be caused by compression on the nerve in the nerve tunnels. Opening the nerve tunnel allows the flow of proteins to resume.

Nerve decompression surgery may also be effective in many cases where the neuropathy is unrelated to diabetes. Success rates in non-diabetic neuropathy are equal to those in diabetic neuropathy patients.

The doctors at Anderson Center for Nerve Pain are among few experts who specialize in treating chronic pain due to various types of conditions and injuries to peripheral nerves. We treat neuropathy, restless leg syndrome and drop foot, as well as other chronic nerve pain conditions throughout the body with groundbreaking new surgical procedures.

If your pain is due to injury or entrapment of one or more peripheral nerves, or from previous surgery, then there is a very high chance that we can help.

Nerve decompression surgery opens the tight area through which the affected nerve travels. This gives the nerve more room and allows blood to flow better in the nerve, as well as providing relief from the pressure that also detrimentally affect nerves.

Nerve Resection surgery removes the offending nerve branch thereby removing the source of the pain, without damaging the nerves that support muscles necessary for movement.

The surgery can be performed in our Surgery Center and takes about one hour, with one hour of recovery.. Many patients have noted restored sensation and reduced pain immediately after anesthesia wears off, and most patients can walk again right away.

Dr Anderson and Dr Aguila are two of a very few doctors who can address these issues and reverse the pain you have by releasing or blocking the nerves that give you your painful symptoms:

o Lower extremity neuropathy and restless legs
o Upper extremity neuropathy
o Chronic pain and joint pain. Avoid joint replacement surgery.
o Pain following knee replacement surgery
o Shoulder pain following reconstructive surgeries to this area
o Groin pain after hernia surgery
o Pelvic Pain or Pain from Caesarian section deliveries
o Back or neck pain. Avoid surgery to your spine
o Post amputation pain
o Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
o Piriformis Syndrome
o Chronic migraine headaches

When you or other doctors have given up we can offer solutions!!

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