~~Many of you are already familiar with the term "neuropathy", usually in the context of diabetes in the form of "diabetic neuropathy". But do you really understand what neuropathy is, why it occurs, and who is at risk? I would venture to say that the answer to all three of the above questions is a resounding NO!
I would like to take a little of your time to elucidate the details of this poorly understood condition and offer some hope to those of you who are either suffering from the condition, or know someone who is.
First of all neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves, usually the "peripheral nerves" meaning those nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord are affected. This affect takes the form of a gradual and progressive spiral of symptoms including burning, tingling, and a loss of sensation and balance. It can advance into the development of wounds from relatively minor trauma that can progressively worsen and become infected, leading to the ultimate medical resolution, which is amputation. The only other "conservative" treatments that modern medicine has to offer are a cascade of drugs, often of progressively greater strength, which cause progressively worsening secondary symptoms. As many of you are already all too aware, once you are caught up in this process the secondary symptoms of the drugs that you are prescribed create a situation in which you are prescribed more drugs in a progressive attempt to control or at least deal with this ever increasing myriad of additional symptoms.
Neuropathy presents itself in three major forms. The first usually occurs in patients suffering from the secondary effects of one of the first treatment modalities in the medical toolbox to treat cancer. This form is termed post-chemo neuropathy. Perhaps the most commonly recognized form of neuropathy is diabetic neuropathy. This form occurs as a result of diabetic disorders which ultimately cause damage to the nerves in the hands, arms, legs and feet. The last form and unfortunately the most common form is idiopathic neuropathy. This form occurs for unknown reasons.
There are some other forms of neuropathy which are less common which can occur as a result of trauma, or due to other disease states, such as Guillian Barre Syndrome, and multiple sclerosis.
The one common thread in every one of the forms of neuropathy is that there has been a vascular breakdown or compromise of the circulation. This insult to the circulation generally affects what is called the "micro-circulation". The micro-circulation supplies oxygen and other nutrients to the nerves. This vascular compromise begins to cause a breakdown of tiny nerves in the extremities called C-fibers. These tiny nerves are sensory nerves, meaning they give you the ability to feel different things, such as pain, pressure, vibration, and heat or cold.
The number, and degree of destruction of these tiny nerve fibers that occurs as a result of the breakdown of the microcirculation is difficult to assess. The symptomatic results however are all too real, and constant to those suffering from this condition.
The problem as it exists today for patients suffering from this condition is that is very difficult to quantify, and the treatments are not only very difficult to tolerate, but unfortunately do very little if anything to address the ultimate cause of the condition. That being the breakdown of the micro-circulation feeding the nerves.
In my next article I will address what the latest research is demonstrating as one potential, non-invasive treatment for neuropathy.