Up to 50% of people with diabetes have diabetic peripheral neuropathy or permanent nerve damage. Although there’s no cure, various treatments can relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life. At Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC in Stockbridge and Griffin, Georgia, board-certified pain management specialists Randall Berinhout, MD, and Dominic Seymore, MD, have more than 20 years of experience diagnosing and treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Call the nearest Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC office today to schedule a diabetic peripheral neuropathy consultation, or book your appointment online.
Diabetes is a group of chronic illnesses that cause persistent high blood sugar. If your blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods, it can damage the peripheral nerves in your arms, legs, hands, and feet.
There’s no way to prevent it altogether, but checking your blood glucose levels regularly and living a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy symptoms include:
As diabetic peripheral neuropathy worsens, you might develop open wounds, infections, or bone and joint damage.
Yes. Make an appointment at Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC if you have diabetes and develop symptoms like burning, tingling, or weakness in your hands or feet. That’s particularly true if these signs occur alongside changes in urination or sexual function or slow-healing open wounds (diabetic ulcers).
Your Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC provider reviews your medical history, asks about your symptoms, and completes a physical exam. They assess your muscle strength and muscle tone, test your tendon reflexes, and check your sensitivity to touch, temperature changes, and vibration.
If these measures don’t provide enough insight into your condition, your provider orders diagnostic tests, like electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction testing. EMG measures the electrical discharges produced by your muscles, while nerve conduction testing assesses how well the nerves in your limbs conduct electrical signals.
The Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC team treats diabetic neuropathy using a conservative and minimally invasive approach. They might suggest:
You might benefit from several different treatments, depending on the severity of the nerve damage.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy can’t be cured, but these treatments can relieve pain, slow the progression of the disease, and help to restore your physical function.
Call the nearest Pain Management Specialists of Atlanta, PC office today to receive treatment for peripheral diabetic neuropathy, or book your appointment online.