What is Peripheral Neuropathy? The Mayo Clinic’s definition of Peripheral Neuripathy is: PN, in its most common form, causes pain and numbness in your hands and feet. The pain typically is described as tingling or burning, while the loss of sensation often is compared to the feeling of wearing a thin stocking or glove.
- the first and most common is a compressive injury or condition that pinches the spinal cord or the nerves in the arms or legs.
- the second is a metabolic condition that decreases blood flow and oxygen to the nerves in the arms or legs.
If blood flow to a nerve gets decreased, that nerve can no longer produce ATP, which is the useable form of energy for all the cells in our bodies. Without ATP or energy, the nerve cells or any cell for that matter begin to break down or die.
TREATMENT:
Treatment is determined by first understanding the cause of your condition. In this office we do a thorough history followed by a detailed examination during which we utilize the Toronto Scoring System for PN.
The Toronto Scoring System is a comparative evaluation which compares the affected region of the body to a normal region. The evaluation tests 8 different parameters of the sensory motor system. Those 8 aspects are: the sense of cool, cold, hot, light touch, vibration, pin wheel, pin prick, and reflexes.
These 8 parameters thoroughly examine both the large and small fibers that are affected in PN. By properly assessing the deficit, an effective treatment program can be tailored to fit the individual patient’s needs.
Please visit www.TampabayBBT.com for further information and video testimonials of our patients that we have helped.
Thank you,
Dr. Marty Willmitch
