Diabetic Neuropathy

Pain, numbness, and tingling are just a few of the uncomfortable symptoms related to diabetic neuropathy. A condition that usually affects the extremities, diabetic neuropathy can compromise your quality of life and make day-to-day activities difficult. To reclaim your life, visit Steven Gershon, M.D. at Gershon Pain Specialists. With an expert team of pain management specialists, the practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia, helps patients with diabetic neuropathy and other chronic conditions find relief and healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is diabetic neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy is a nerve disorder that develops as a result of diabetes. There are four types of diabetic neuropathy: peripheral, autonomic, proximal, or focal. The most common type of diabetic neuropathy is peripheral. This condition is painful and uncomfortable, and it primarily affects the extremities, such as the arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes.

What are symptoms of diabetic neuropathy?

Different types of diabetic neuropathy show different symptoms, which can affect sensory, motor, and autonomic or involuntary nervous system functions. Mild cases of diabetic neuropathy may go on for years and produce no symptoms. People with peripheral neuropathy that have symptoms may have some, or all, of the following:

Pain and tingling in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes
Numbness in the extremities
Extreme sensitivity to touch
Sharp pains, cramps
Burning or stinging sensations
Coordination and balance impairment
Loss of reflexes
Muscle weakness, especially in the ankles

Diabetic neuropathy might also cause deformities or problems in the foot, like hammertoe, arch collapse, or sores. The symptoms of pain, tingling, and numbness may get worse at night.

What testing is performed for diabetic neuropathy?

Dr. Gershon and the team at Gershon Pain Specialists are experts in performing electrodiagnostic studies. These tests help evaluate diabetic neuropathy by testing electrical activity in your nerves and muscles to determine if there’s nerve or muscle damage. The testing has two parts. First is a nerve conduction study that tests how well and how fast the electrical signals are traveling along nerve pathways. Second is a “painless EMG” test, which tests how your muscles and nerves are working by checking the electrical signals made by your muscles. Dr. Gershon has mastered the art of performing these tests painlessly, inserting fine needles into your muscles (he even teaches medical students and residents how to perform the procedure painlessly). The testing typically lasts about 15 minutes, and it provides a wealth of information about how to approach your treatment plan. Diabetic neuropathy testing might also include a Sudoscan®, which uses sweat gland measurements to determine how the small nerves that activate sweat glands are functioning.

Based on the results of these tests, the team can create a customized treatment plan, which may include a variety of therapies to address nerve function, eliminate pain, manage your diabetes, and help you recover strength and function in your extremities.