Symptoms of DPN

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7 Aug

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Symptoms of DPN

What is diabetic peripheral neuropathy?

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a condition caused by long-term high blood sugar levels, which causes nerve damage. Some people will not have any symptoms. But for others symptoms may be debilitating.

Between 60 and 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Peripheral neuropathy, the most common form of diabetic neuropathy, affects the legs, feet, toes, hands, and arms.

Many people do not know that they have diabetes. People unaware of their diabetes may not know what’s causing some of the unusual sensations they’re experiencing.

What causes nerve damage?

Nerve damage is the result of high levels of blood glucose over long periods of time. It isn’t entirely clear why high glucose levels damage nerves.

A number of factors may play a role in nerve fiber damage. One possible component is the intricate interplay between the blood vessels and nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Other factors include high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and nerve inflammation.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy usually first appears in the feet and legs, and may occur in the hands and arms later.

Feeling numbness

A common symptom of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is numbness. Sometimes you may be unable to feel your feet while walking.

Other times, your hands or feet will tingle or burn. Or it may feel like you’re wearing a sock or glove when you’re not.

Shooting pain

Sometimes you may experience sudden, sharp pains that feel like an electrical current. Other times, you may feel cramping, like when you’re grasping something like a piece of silverware.

You also may sometimes unintentionally drop items you’re holding as a result of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Loss of balance

Walking with a wobbly motion or even losing your balance can result from diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Wearing orthopedic shoes often helps with this.

Loss of coordination is a common sign of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Often, muscle weakness affects the ankle, which can affect your gait. Numbness in the feet can also contribute to loss of balance.

My foot looks funny

Your foot may begin to look deformed. This is the result of unusual shifts in weight caused by walking abnormally and the loss of nerve function, which can affect the muscles.

One type of deformity is called hammertoe. It occurs when one of the three toes between the big toe and the little toe becomes misshapen at the joints.

Why am I sore?

You may begin to notice sores or blisters on your feet that you can’t explain. It could be that you hurt yourself and didn’t feel it at the time.

Sometimes you don’t feel pain or injury because of the nerve damage. This can be very dangerous. For example, you could scald yourself with hot water because you’re unable to feel a pain response to heat.

Hot and cold

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy can also result in exaggerated sensations. Holding a cup of warm coffee may feel painfully hot. It may also hurt when a person with cold hands touches you. And your hands or feet may feel hot or cold for no apparent reason.

When pain affects sleep

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy often worsens at night. You may hurt so much that even a bed sheet feels very heavy and painful. This can make it difficult to fall asleep or sleep through the night.

Take care of yourself

You should be able to manage your condition by working with your healthcare provider and taking the proper medication.

Limit alcohol and avoid tobacco if you have diabetic peripheral neuropathy. These substances may worsen symptoms.

Good nutrition is important, as vitamin deficiencies can exacerbate the condition. Those on metformin should talk to their doctor about a vitamin B-12 supplement.

Unchecked wounds can potentially lead to infections that can sometimes spread to the bones. And infection in the bones can lead to amputation of feet and toes.

Make sure you see your doctor regularly and immediately attend to any sores you notice.

Article Provided By: healthline

If you would like to discuss what Carolina Pain Scrambler do to help relieve your chronic pain symptoms or receive more information on our treatment process, please do not hesitate to call us at 864-520-5011 or you can email us at info@carolinapainscrambler.com

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2 Aug

People with Chronic Pain Need to Know

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People with chronic pain find that pain is a unique experience. One person may have a different experience dealing with pain than another person, in a similar situation. Pain is more than an unpleasant feeling. It also involves your emotions to events that trigger the pain, such as a car accident or a surgery.

It is hard for a patient, alone, to deal with chronic pain and its related problems such as insomnia and depression. A pain management doctor can help you through this difficult experience. As a patient, you need to take control over your pain, by getting the help that is needed and working with your treatment team to get better.

Understanding chronic pain

Chronic pain outlasts what is considered a normal healing time of three to six months, and can become a disease in itself. It starts in the setting of injury or even without a known trigger. You can understand chronic pain better, by comparing it to acute pain.

Chronic pain vs. acute pain

Acute pain is the short-term pain you feel when you burn your hand, sprain your wrist, or pull a muscle. Your body is warning you to stop a harmful behavior, modify activity to reduce strain on the injured area and seek treatment.

With chronic pain, the nervous system begins to adjust to ongoing pain signals, and the nerves become overactive. This becomes a persistent issue, that can lead to other problems like sleeplessness, depression, or anxiety.

While acute pain acts like a fire alarm that tells you to find and remove the danger, chronic pain acts like a fire alarm that can’t shut off and keeps ringing long after the fire goes out.

Chronic pain and your central nervous system

Early Greeks and Romans believed that the brain plays a role in feeling pain. Although modern science supports this view, we now understand that our pain-sensing system is far more complex than the simple view of the old. The central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) is your body’s control center when it comes to pain.

Pain can be either magnified or reduced in the brain and spinal cord, based on a series of relay stations that occur throughout the nervous system’s pain signaling pathway. This process starts when the pain signals in the body get turned on more easily. As a result, a person can become more sensitive and feel moderate to severe pain even with normal stimuli or mild pressure, like a light brush against the skin.

Recognizing chronic pain

Although pain starts at a small level in the brain and spinal cord, it can have a big effect on your life.

Signs of chronic pain:

Pain lasts over six months
The amount of pain you feel seems greater than what you would expect
Sometimes, there is pain without a known cause
Sleeplessness, anxiety, depression develop

Causes of chronic pain

Chronic pain can start after direct tissue damage, as a result of an illness, or after nerve damage.

Conditions that result in chronic pain:

Arthritis
Cancer
Neck/back radiculopathy (herniated disc presses on a spinal nerve)
Diabetic neuropathy (hand and foot numbness)
Myofascial pain syndrome (muscle pain)
Post-surgical pain syndrome (long-term pain after surgery)
Phantom limb pain (pain and sensation that a leg or arm is still there after amputation)

Finding the source of pain

Your doctor diagnoses your pain, after a thorough medical history and exam. A description of your pain’s location, duration, and pattern, leads a doctor to the correct diagnosis. Tests such as X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans, may reveal why you are having pain.

Braking the pain cycle

Several everyday habits can help you gain control over your chronic pain:

Stay ahead of the pain – take your medications on a schedule
Find what increases your pain and try to work around it – for some that means rest, and for others it means greater activity
Remain active – people with chronic pain exercise less and have increased risk for cardiovascular problems
Avoid stress – the sympathetic (flight or fight) response triggered by stress, can increase pain
Get enough sleep – the brain “turns-off” during sleep and gives you a break from pain
Stop smoking – smoking slows down blood flow to the tissues, slowing down the removal of toxins from the painful area
Maintain a healthy diet – an anti-inflammatory, low sugar, diet may decrease inflammation pain

Outcomes

Under the care of your pain management doctor, chronic pain often improves, or may even disappear. Although chronic pain may return after an injury, such as a fall, it may also return in cycles that are not related to anything you do. Therefore, it is important to seek help early, from your pain doctor, in order to better control your pain and to regain the active lifestyle you deserve.

Article Provided By: Advanced Medical Group

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31 Jul

Relief from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Does wrist or hand pain wake you up at night? Do you shake your wrist to stop the pain? Are you someone who types or holds the phone a lot? You may suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects about 3 to 6 percent of American adults. It is often seen in people whose work or hobbies require repetitive motions of the wrist and hand. These include musicians, hair stylists, assembly line workers (especially those who operate vibrating tools), IT professionals and those who use keyboards.

The result can be burning, numbness or pain in the wrist and hand. This can ultimately lead to decreased gripping strength and coordination.

How does Carpal Tunnel Syndrome develop?

The median nerve runs the length of the arm and provides feeling to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (except for the pinky) This nerve and a series of tendons run through a narrow channel between the wrist bones called the carpal tunnel. If the tendons become irritated and swollen, the tunnel becomes smaller and the media nerve can get squeezed or pinched.

Those with smaller bone structures may be more susceptible to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is why the condition is seen more frequently in women than in men. Obesity is also a significant risk factor for developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Who is at risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

In addition to those whose work or hobbies require repetitive motions of the wrist and hand, some patients develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome because of:

Heredity: Some people have smaller carpal tunnels or may have other anatomic structures that reduce the space for the median nerve. This is why women are more prone than men to develop the condition.
Pregnancy: Sometimes the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can cause water retention. This may lead to swelling in the hand and wrist that can result in a flare-up of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Chronic Disease or Illness: A number of chronic conditions, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease, can increase the risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is due to impacts to the nerve and the formation of bone spurs in and around the carpal tunnel bones.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

Numbness, weakness or pain in the hand, including decreased grip strength.
A loss of strength and coordination, especially the ability to use your thumb to pinch.
Burning, tingling or itching of the index and middle fingers.
A sense of the hand “falling asleep” at night and awakening to a pins-and-needles sensation.
A worsening of symptoms as the day progresses, perhaps while engaged in activities like driving, holding a phone or reading a paper.

How Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is Diagnosed

First, your doctor will take your full medical history. Then he or she will examine your hands, arms, shoulders and neck, looking for signs of tenderness, swelling, warmth. He or she will then examine the median nerve and the carpal tunnel area and perform a series of specific clinical test maneuvers. These tests will determine pain patterns and check for strength, sensation and proper nerve function. Your doctor may:

Bend and hold your wrists in a flexed position to see if it results in numbness or tingling in your hands.
Tap over the median nerve in the carpal tunnel to recreate paresthesia.
Touch your fingertips and hands with a special instrument to see how much feeling you have in those extremities. Your eyes will be closed during this exercise.
Check for weakness in the muscles around the base of your thumb.

Imaging Tests to Diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Imaging tests may be ordered to look for things like a fracture, arthritis, a cyst or tumor.

Ultrasounds provide a look at the bones and tissues in your arm and wrist to detect signs of median nerve compression.
X-rays help your physician eliminate other potential causes of your pain, such as arthritis, ligament injury or a fracture.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the soft tissues in your arm and hand can assess whether abnormal tissue or damage to the median nerve itself (perhaps from injury or tumor) might be the cause of your pain.
Electrophysiological tests measure how well your median nerve is working and can determine if there is too much pressure on the nerve. These include nerve conduction studies that measure the signals that travel along the nerves of your hand and arm. The results provide a “road map” to determine the severity of your nerve impingement.
Electromyograms (EMG) measure the electrical activity in muscles to determine if you have suffered nerve or muscle damage.

Your doctor may also order lab tests to rule out underlying conditions, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Like most conditions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is best treated early for greater success. Your physician will most likely begin treatment with conservative measures such as:

Splinting to stabilize movement in the wrist.
Lifestyle changes, including efforts to reduce or eliminate repetitive movements, or at least incorporating designated rest periods into the day. Improved posture and form can help, too.
Ice to reduce swelling.
Exercises to strengthen and stretch the tendons that may be causing the nerve irritation.
Reducing pain and discomfort with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.

If these efforts do not result in relief, your doctor may suggest prescription corticosteroid or lidocaine injections into the wrist to relieve pressure on the median nerve.

If these minimally invasive measures are unsuccessful, some patients may be candidates for regenerative injections to restore the normal chemical environment within the carpal tunnel and aid in nerve recovery.

Early treatment is key. Patients who ignore the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome risk severe muscle atrophy that may make a complete recovery impossible.

Article Provided By: Advanced Medical Group

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19 Jul

5 Things To Know About Neuropathy

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Neuropathy is a condition that occurs as a result of nerve damage. Peripheral neuropathy, or damage to the peripheral nerves, is one type of neuropathy and an often unexpected complication of cancer treatment. Here are five things you should know:

1. What does “peripheral neuropathy” really mean?
Peripheral nervous system is the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. Your hands and feet (and the rest of your body) have nerves that tell you where your extremities are in relation to your body, help regulate temperature, and signal pain. When you touch something hot, your peripheral nerves signal your central nervous system and your hand quickly pulls away.

Your peripheral nerves act like messengers between your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the rest of your body. Peripheral neuropathy refers to the damage done to the peripheral nervous system, which disrupts the messengers’ ability to carry information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. There are three different types of peripheral nerves that may be damaged by neuropathy: Sensory nerves, Motor nerves, and Autonomic nerves.

2. Who is affected?
Neuropathy is classified by types, which are named based on the specific nerves that are affected. Neuropathy, in general, affects about one to two percent of Americans. The most common type of neuropathy among cancer survivors is peripheral neuropathy.

It is estimated that 10–20 percent of cancer patients experience some form of peripheral neuropathy. Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is a possible side-effect of chemotherapy and affects about 30–40 percent of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Ask your health care team about the short and long-term effects of chemotherapy you have received. Specifically, cancer types associated with higher risk include: lung, breast, ovarian, myeloma, lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease and testicular. Certain factors about the diagnosis and treatments may also heighten risk, such as tumor location, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and other cancer related disorders.

Other life factors and certain medication may also increase the risk of neuropathy, such as excessive use of alcohol and old age. Learn more about these factors here.

3. What are the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy can cause a tingling sensation or numbness in different parts of the body, but most commonly in the hands and feet. An individual’s personal experience of neuropathy depends on the types of peripheral nerves affected, the symptoms experienced from damage to those nerves, and the severity of those symptoms. Each person’s experience may vary.

4. So what if I’m diagnosed with neuropathy, what’s next?
Treatment and recovery times vary from case to case, but peripheral nerves can heal and recovery is possible. Depending on the cause of peripheral neuropathy and the type of nerve damage involved, a variety of different treatment options may be recommended by your health care team. These typically include:

Medication. Doctor prescribed medication doesn’t cure neuropathy but can help subside the pain and other side-effects.
Nutrition. Specific nutrients have proven to help manage neuropathy. Vitamin deficiencies can cause damage to nerve tissue, so it is important to maintain a healthy diet. A registered dietician can help you build a meal plan.
Physical or occupational therapy. Keeping muscles active and strong is beneficial to improving coordination and balance and reducing muscle cramps and pain. It can also help prevent injuries related to falls and loss of fine motor skills.
Integrative medicine. This treatment includes treatments such as massage and acupuncture to manage symptoms.

5. How can I be my own advocate?
Speak up about your symptoms to your health care team to get proper care. Educating yourself ensures you are best informed to make decisions about your treatment and will help you better communicate with your doctor, your family, and your friends about your needs.

You can take action to foster your own recovery and safety by:

Practicing appropriate pain relief. It is important to stay in control of your pain to maintain your quality of life. Ask your doctor for their recommendations on how to manage your pain.
Implementing as much movement and activity as appropriate into your routine.
Making sure your home is a safe environment to prevent possible tripping/falling. Examples include assuring proper lighting in hallways, using rugs for traction, and installing handrails. Find more safety tips for home here.

Surround yourself with ample support, information, and encouragement. Coping with peripheral neuropathy can be a long, difficult process, and it is important to know you are not alone. Share your feelings with friends, family, or a support group.

Article Provided By: LIVESTRONG

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17 Jul

Top Pain Management Techniques

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Bodily pain that lasts more than 12 weeks is defined as chronic pain. This differs from recurring pain, wherein an individual suffers shorter bouts of pain on a consistent basis. Both chronic pain and recurring pain can be life-altering and have an adverse effect on mood, happiness, and general quality of life. While diagnosing and treating the underlying condition is a good step toward reducing pain, other pain management techniques may offer relief. From exercise to biofeedback, people should know there are options for managing their pain.

1. Cold and heat

Heat therapy and cold therapy are two of the best simple and inexpensive pain management options. Heat therapy involves applying heat to the affected area; this improves circulation and blood flow. Depending on the condition, dry heat, such as heating pads, or moist heat, such as a steamed towel, may prove more beneficial. Conversely, cold therapy reduces inflammation and swelling by reducing blood flow to the target area.

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2. Yoga

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that combines mindfulness with breathing exercises and gentle motions. Gently raising the heart rate can release endorphins that help moderate pain, as does the increase in oxygen, which also enhances mood. Physically, stretching helps reduce pain held in the muscles and joints.

Pain Management, Pain Relief, Pain Therapy, Chronic Pain, Pain Center, Carolina Pain Scrambler Center, Greenville South Carolina

3. Exercise

Gentle exercise such as taking a brisk walk, going for a swim, or riding a bicycle can ease pain. Exercising releases endorphins that elevate mood and block pain on a molecular level. These practices also strengthen the muscles, which reduces pain and prevents re-injury in the long run.

Pain Management, Pain Relief, Pain Therapy, Chronic Pain, Pain Center, Carolina Pain Scrambler Center, Greenville South Carolina

4. Meditation

Meditation is a mindfulness activity that requires the individual to calm and center him or herself through deep breathing and focus. The practice can elevate mood, increase energy, and help ground oneself. Studies also show that meditation and deep breathing have a positive effect on pain. Meditation releases unconscious tension and tightness that are common sources of pain.

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5. Physical therapy

Regular sessions with a licensed physical therapist can greatly reduce pain. Physical therapists will aim to treat the pain as well as the underlying source. Physical therapy sessions consist of light aerobic exercise, stretching, and strength training. Therapists may also utilize tools such as heating pads, ice packs, and massage.

Pain Management, Pain Relief, Pain Therapy, Chronic Pain, Pain Center, Carolina Pain Scrambler Center, Greenville South Carolina

6. Massage

While many people think of a massage as part of a trip to the spa, therapeutic massage can be a useful tool for pain management in addition to relaxation. Massage releases mental stress and eases muscle tension. Although massage typically targets neck and back pain, evidence suggests it is beneficial to all types of pain, and therapists are often well-versed in treating the whole body.

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7. Avoid alcohol and smoking

Pain often makes falling asleep and staying asleep difficult. A lack of sleep can contribute to pain, creating a vicious cycle. While alcohol is a depressant and may help you fall asleep faster, it does nothing to improve the quality of your sleep, and you’ll often feel exhausted the next day; this is because alcohol blocks the deep, restorative REM sleep we need. Smoking worsens circulation, which can contribute to chronic pain.

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8. Occupational therapy

Different from physical therapy, occupational therapy involves learning and applying daily behaviors that will not aggravate the chronic pain. For example, if a person suffers from neck pain that makes it difficult to sit in front of a computer all day, an occupational therapist can suggest modifications and exercises to improve the situation. Occupational therapy is often used in conjunction with physical therapy to get the best results.

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9. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the ancient practice of stimulating pressure points on the body to achieve specific results. While scientific inquiry into the health benefits of acupuncture is ongoing, much of the evidence suggests acupuncture is an efficient way to treat pain. Acupuncture works by activating the body’s self-healing mechanisms and can be useful in treating lower back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and osteoarthritis. It may also help with chronic migraines.

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10. Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a therapy that helps control the body’s involuntary responses to pain. Electrodes take various readings such as heart and breathing rate, blood pressure, and skin temperature. The biofeedback therapist then takes the patient through relaxation exercises that help regulate these functions and ultimately positively affect pain.

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Article Provided By: FactyHealth

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15 Jul

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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Pressure on the median nerve – the central nerve that connects to the hand – causes carpal tunnel syndrome. In carpal tunnel patients, it causes pain and lack of function in the hand when squeezed. People whose work requires repetitive hand movements often experience this disorder. For example, people who work on computers and hair stylists commonly experience carpal tunnel syndrome. Pregnant women are also highly susceptible. A wrist splint or exercises can ease symptoms in the early days, however, in advanced cases surgery is necessary.

1. Pins and Needles

Everyone recognizes the tingling sensation known as pins and needles. This easily happens to someone who stays in an awkward position without moving hands and legs over a period. In these cases, the feeling is no more than a slight irritant, but with carpal tunnel syndrome, the sensation is far more intense and unpleasant. Usually, it only affects the thumb and fingers, but it can also spread to other areas.