Among the most common complications of diabetes is neuropathy. Unfortunately, even with your blood sugar in good control, neuropathy may occur. In fact, over time, this will occur in up to 50% of people with diabetes. Once diabetic neuropathy occurs, it almost always gets worse. Currently, there is no agreement on why it occurs, and there is no medical treatment to prevent it.
In diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the feet, usually you will notice sensory changes such as burning, tingling, or pain in your toes or feet. At first these symptoms will come and go, but then they will be constant. These unpleasant symptoms may interfere with you going to sleep or cause you to awaken from your sleep.
Over a period of time, these sensory disturbances may cause such a loss of feeling in the feet that you will not feel how tight your shoes are. You could also have a pebble in your shoe that goes unnoticed, injuring your foot. Weakness of the foot muscles, known as motor neuropathy, may also occur, causing hammertoes or the arches of the feet to collapse.
The neuropathy will likely affect your balance, which could cause unsteadiness on the feet, falls, injuries, and broken bones. Roughly 40-65% of diabetic patients with neuropathy report falling within the past year. Hip fractures are twice as likely in those with diabetic neuropathy.
Neuropathy is the leading cause of the ulcerations or holes that occur in the feet, as well as the leading cause of infections in the feet. It is the leading cause of the loss of toes and, with advanced cases, amputation.
In some patients with diabetes, it may be found that there are specific areas in the body where the nerve is being compressed in a tunnel due to swelling within the diabetic nerve. The carpal tunnel in the wrist and the tarsal tunnel at the ankle are common sites of nerve compression in the diabetic. The nerves become compressed because the diabetic nerve swells and gets larger over time. If the nerve compression goes untreated, the nerve itself is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, and over time the nerve dies. This results in numb feet.
In many patients suffering from these nerve compressions, MLS laser therapy may eliminate the pain of diabetic neuropathy and restore normal sensation to the feet if caught early in the disease progression. MLS laser therapy is a non-invasive treatment used to reduce swelling within the nerve, improve blood flow to the nerve, and improve nerve function. Surgery may also be performed to relieve pressure on your nerves within these tunnels to relieve the pain and restore sensation to your feet.
Do not wait until there is no feeling left in your feet, or you develop a foot wound or ulcer. Seek consultation while there is still time to reverse the damage to the nerves.
For more information on Neuropathy Treatment in the Scottsdale area, conveniently schedule an appointment online, or call Dr. L. David Richer today at 480-629-5903!