Do you have patients who have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy? If so, it’s vital they understand the condition falls under the larger umbrella of chronic pain. There are many causes of neuropathic pain, and they include everything from progressive nerve disease to infection or injury. One of the most frustrating aspects of this condition is that the discomfort can flare up at any time, seemingly untriggered.
There’s a reason for this. Neuropathic pain occurs when the body sends unwarranted (and generally untriggered) pain signals to the brain. And the condition will continue to progress if left unchecked. Keep reading for a breakdown of chronic pain disorder and peripheral neuropathy so that you can empower your patients.
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Peripheral neuropathy includes more than 100 different manifestations of nerve damage that can prove potentially incapacitating, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The development of this condition is a multifactorial process that’s highly complicated. It often begins with a gradual, almost unnoticeable, onset. But the long-term effects can prove devastating for patients.
Fortunately, an exciting new avenue of research continues to shed light on the role of fitness in the prevention and management of the condition. An active lifestyle also appears to play a crucial role in some of peripheral neuropathy’s most distressing symptoms. Here’s what your patients need to know about exercise and neuropathy. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that an estimated 20 million people in the United States suffer from peripheral neuropathy. But experts believe figures could be much higher, with a potential 30 million diabetics living with the condition (often undetected). Peripheral neuropathy often goes unreported and may be misdiagnosed. A complex array of symptoms can make it difficult for physicians to identify, yet the number of individuals suffering from the condition continues to grow.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Convenient care clinics and independent pharmacies fill a vital need for patients when it comes to practical treatment options for ailments and conditions. These facilities can also fill a significant void when it comes to testing for and offering therapeutic solutions to peripheral neuropathy. Here’s what you need to understand about peripheral neuropathy and how to provide better treatment options to patients. Diabetic neuropathy is a serious condition that impacts more than 50 percent of those diagnosed with diabetes, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The disease can lead to irreversible nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels. The nerves typically damaged by diabetic peripheral neuropathy are located in the legs and feet, but they may also be in the bladder, kidneys, and other parts of the body.
Patients diagnosed with diabetes who are experiencing numbness or pain in their legs and feet walk into your facility daily. So do their caregivers. It’s time to have a discussion with them about diabetic neuropathy and how to manage it. Other symptoms of this condition may include problems with the heart, blood vessels, or urinary tract. And while the red flags of diabetic neuropathy can prove deceptively mild for some individuals (at least, initially), others may experience severe and disabling issues. Left untreated, a painful and debilitating decline will continue. Here’s what your patients need to know about this condition and the therapeutic management options your facility can offer them. |