Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is the term used to describe disorders of the peripheral nerves. Even though 10 to 20 million people in the US suffer with PN, information is hard to come by. Approximately 50% of diabetics will develop the condition. Many people using statin pills: “cholesterol drugs”, will be affected by this mysterious and under-recognized malady.
Neuropathy means ” disease or abnormality of the nervous system”, which is not a very helpful definition We think of neuropathy as any damage to the nervous system. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, herniated discs and strokes are all insults to different areas of the nervous system, all with different symptoms. Diabetes is a systemic disease that affects all the nerves of the body from the brain, eyes and small nerves of the heart and digestive system, to the nerves in the hands, feet and legs.
The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerves that branch out of the spinal cord to all parts of the body. There are 2 types of symptoms with PN; negative and positive. Negative signs, which come first, are when damage to the nervous system, obviously, brings about LOSS of a particular function. For example; loss of reflexes, loss of strength, loss of sensation like numbness. But these are rarely detectable to the patient, because the brain makes up the difference in these losses. Only after some time do the sick and damaged nerves develop the positive signs of neuropathy; tingling, burning, biting, stabbing, shooting pains. This too is a reaction of the brain and nervous system, unfortunately this over-reaction tears apart the fiber of patient’s lives. Patients describe their pain in their own individual language of “pain”. This can easily confuse a doctor not trained in the recognition and treatment of these patients. So the patient usually continues to suffer, going from doctor to doctor, to stronger and stronger doses of pills until they are either completely drugged up and out of it, or lost in their own world of suffering. Some neuropathies come on suddenly, others over many years. Some people are affected only by a weakness in the arms and legs which leads to difficulty standing, walking or getting out of a chair. The loss of sensation from the feet, ankles and toes contributes to patients not having a “good sense” of where their feet are in space, touching the ground, and this causes them to fall very easily. These under-recognized sensory losses CAN ONLY be detected with the proper clinical exam. This office has the necessary tools to uncover the underlying cause of this “silent” nerve damage.
Some patients will eventually become unable to walk at all. Others start with a tingling, pin pricking feeling that turns into deep sharp stabbing pains and burning electric shocks. These debilitating problems can also be at their worst at night while trying to get to sleep, because the PAIN never goes away. In fact, once started IT ONLY GETS WORSE!!
Currently, ordinary medicine has no cure for PN at this time. The extremely powerful drugs dispensed to patients do NOT TREAT the NERVE DAMAGE! They numb the brain to numb the pain. Most patients can not tolerate a drugged existence but feel they have NO OTHER OPTION against this horrifying pain.
WE OFFER A SOLUTION.
Dr. Joe Alaimo has worked with patients suffering from PN for nearly 3 years. He has worked with doctors who have published and presented papers in the US, Canada and Europe that document the discoveries that has helped thousands of people get their lives back. Dr. Joe understands that PN patients have a very low quality of life; that the pain of neuropathy touches every aspect of an affected person’s existence. Dr. Joe is also currently a member of the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of America.
Everyday we have more success relieving neuropathy pain. WHY NOT YOU?
- Reduce Pain and Cramps
- Reduce tingling and numbness in fingers, toes or legs
- Experience touch without pain
- Reduce feeling cold, burning or pain in feet and legs
- Improve sense of balance and coordination
- Less dependency on medications
- Improve sleep
- Less restless leg feelings.
Call Today for more information or to schedule a consultation and examination. 910-251-1620.
