Neuropathy

Around 8% of older adults and a significant number of younger ones have peripheral neuropathy. At Specialized Foot and Ankle Care, foremost New Jersey podiatrists Ankur Bahri, DPM, and Sandeep Sandhu, DPM, provide compassionate care for neuropathy. Most patients with neuropathy are managing an underlying disease like diabetes. The team works alongside your other medical providers to ensure that you protect your health and avoid severe complications like amputation. The practice operates out of three convenient offices in Carteret, Perth Amboy, and Edison, New Jersey. Call the one in your area today or book an appointment online for help.

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy is nerve damage. The most common is peripheral neuropathy. It affects the nerves in your extremities. Most people who experience peripheral neuropathy have problems with the nerves in their feet, but it can also affect their hands.

The many types of peripheral neuropathy are grouped by the problems they cause.

Motor neuropathy

Motor neuropathy involves the nerves that move your muscles.

Sensory neuropathy

Sensory neuropathy affects the nerves controlling sensations. For example, pain and temperature sensitivity.

Autonomic nerve neuropathy

Autonomic nerve neuropathy affects unconscious bodily functions like breathing.

Some people have combination neuropathy, with symptoms of more than one type.

What symptoms does neuropathy cause?

The nerves that relay signals to your feet don’t work well with neuropathy. This can lead to:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning
• Stabbing pain
• Shooting pain
• Poor muscle coordination, causing stumbling or tripping

Many people with neuropathy have an underlying condition like diabetes. This makes neuropathy particularly dangerous.

For example, numbness can cause you to miss an injury on the bottom of your foot. So you continue walking on that injury in everyday life, making it worse. Diabetes also causes circulation problems that prevent normal healing.

These problems can lead to foot ulcers. Ninety percent of people who visit the hospital with diabetic foot ulcers develop those ulcers due to neuropathy and infections.

Is neuropathy treatable? 

Yes, neuropathy is treatable. And in many cases, you can slow its progression. The Specialized Foot and Ankle Care team strives to educate patients about the dangers of neuropathy and provide effective preventive and healing strategies.

Lifestyle changes help control neuropathy and prevent it from getting worse. For example, good blood sugar control, quitting smoking, and weight management can help people with diabetes and neuropathy.

Custom-made orthotics (using a 3D computer imaging program in the office) can help ease the pressure on your feet and reduce the risk of neuropathy complications.

If you develop foot wounds, the team provides advanced wound management treatments in the office to help boost your body’s healing powers.

Annual foot exams at Specialized Foot and Ankle Care are crucial. The team also recommends daily foot checks at home. Getting help is necessary if you notice any signs of nonhealing wounds.

At Specialized Foot & Ankle Care, Dr. Sandhu or Dr. Bahari treat patients for bunions, diabetic foot care, athlete foot, sports injuries, heel pain, and more. We are a foot and ankle specialist practice located in New Jersey. Call us to book your appointment today.