All Your Questions Answered
Neuropathy is a term that covers a number of different conditions affecting your peripheral nervous system. These are the nerves that branch out all over your body from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system or CNS).
The peripheral nerves transmit messages from the CNS, telling your muscles how to move. Peripheral nerves send sensory information back to your central nervous system, too, like whether it’s hot or cold, or if you’re feeling physical pleasure or pain.
If the peripheral nerves aren’t working as they should, it disrupts the flow of information to and from your CNS. The signal might be lost altogether, or there might be errors in the signal, so it tells your brain you’re feeling sensations like pain when there’s no tissue damage.
The treatment Dr. Andersson recommends for neuropathy depends on the cause of your condition and how severely it’s affecting you.
If you have an autoimmune condition, for instance, treating the disease with strong anti-inflammatories and immunosuppressant medications can relieve your symptoms. If your condition stems from a pinched or compressed nerve, you might need to undergo surgery to relieve the pressure.
In many cases, neuropathy is idiopathic, meaning it doesn’t have an identifiable cause. If this is the case, or if other treatments aren’t providing relief, Dr. Andersson might need to prescribe medication to reduce nerve activity and relieve your symptoms.
Problems like allodynia often respond well to applications of a cream containing capsaicin, the substance which gives chilies their heat. Anti-seizure medicines and antidepressants can also be useful for treating neuropathy.
Lifestyle changes that improve your overall health, and learning to manage your condition using psychotherapy and behavioral strategies can also make a big difference.
Compassionate, personalized treatment for a wide range of neurological conditions to help you feel your best.
