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Diabetic Neuropathy Pain Management in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville Diabetic Neuropathy Specialist

What is Diabetic Neuropathy (aka Diabetic Polyneuropathy)?

Diabetic neuropathy, also known as diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a complication of long-term diabetes. According to the National Institute of Health, nearly 60-70% of long-term diabetes sufferers have complained of symptoms of DPN. “Neuropathy” describes the type of nerve damage that occurs when you have diabetes.  Some people with this type of nerve damage don’t have any symptoms, but it’s also quite common for them to complain of a burning pain, tingling, or numbness in their feet, legs, hands, and fingers and throughout their body. Unfortunately, DPN has the ability to affect nearly any organ in the body, including the heart and the reproductive systems. It has the potential to be quite serious, and should not be ignored if you are experiencing symptoms. Knoxville diabetic neuropathy specialists at Omega Pain Management will help you cope with this issue and live pain-free. Diabetic neuropathy is actually considered to be one of the primary signs of diabetes, and the complications and discomfort often increase with age. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) say that studies have shown that the longer you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, the more chance you have of suffering from DPN.  A large percentage of people who have had diabetes for over 25 years report suffering from the condition.

What causes diabetic neuropathy?

High blood sugar spikes are common when trying to control your diabetes. Every time your blood sugar spikes, it has the potential to injure nerve fibers throughout your body. Although the damage can manifest in nearly any part of the body, nerve damage from diabetes most often affects the feet, fingers, legs and toes. Because neuropathy can involve tingling that leads to numbness, many people who suffer from neuropathy don’t realize their feet are numb, and often can overlook injuries to their feet until they become a serious problem. Diabetic neuropathy treatment in Knoxville, TN

Is diabetic neuropathy dangerous?

For many people, the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy are mild, and present as pain and/or numbness in your extremities. Sometimes, however, DPN will manifest itself in more serious ways, affecting the heart, kidneys, and other major organs.  Diabetic neuropathy is a common serious complication of diabetes, but it can be prevented and managed by close monitoring of your blood sugar and strict maintenance of a diabetic diet. Patients who experience numbness in their feet are more prone to injuries and other foot infections. This eventually puts them at a higher risk for ulcerations, and ultimately, amputations if those infections don’t heal properly. Proper treatment and management of symptoms is crucial to living the best quality of life possible.

Finding neuropathic pain relief

Although often overlooked, DPN is a common cause of suffering for those who are afflicted with diabetes. Even when major organs are not affected, the pain alone can be debilitating and erode your quality of life. However, with a qualified physician you should be able to learn to manage your diabetes and improve your symptoms. There are now many promising treatment options available to manage DPN, but unfortunately, there is no present way to reverse or cure the condition.

Treatment for diabetic neuropathy in Knoxville, TN

Omega Pain Management specializes in helping individuals cope with their pain and offers practical, medically sound treatment options for diabetic neuropathy in Knoxville. Contact Dr. Igor Smelyansky for a consultation and treatment for pain management Knoxville TN.  Phone (865) 337-5137.