Neuropathy Is Often Misdiagnosed

People living with neuropathy experience burning, tingling, numbness, and pain in their legs or feet on a daily basis. In many cases, it’s caused by diabetes, but poor circulation can also cause these symptoms or make them worse. “Most people don’t know what neuropathy is until you start talking about it,” said Dr. Diana Perry, of CIC Foot & Ankle in Flagstaff. “In many cases, people recognize they are getting older and think that they just need to learn to live with the leg cramps, tingling, pain or loss of feeling in their feet.” But, that doesn’t need to be the reality.

The first step in treating this condition is to diagnose what’s causing it. If you’re currently living with neuropathy and aren’t finding relief from medication or treatment, peripheral artery disease (PAD) may be playing a role. “The medications for neuropathy treat the symptoms, not the cause,” explained Perry. “It’s concerning, because if PAD is causing the problem, the medication could hide the developing condition and let it get worse.”

PAD is caused by the buildup of fatty material inside the arteries, which hardens into plaque. When this occurs, it limits the amount of blood that passes through the arteries. Diminished blood flow (poor circulation) affects the nerves and muscles in your legs and feet.

“Your feet need a good blood supply to stay healthy,” explained Perry. “The muscles and nerves need oxygen and nutrients, which are carried in your blood; when your circulation is affected, your body uses pain, burning, tingling and numbness to make you aware that there is a problem.”

The good news is that PAD is treatable. Specialists are able to use X-ray imaging to view the inside of the arteries to see if there is a blockage. “So, what we do,” explained Dr. Joel Rainwater, M.D., endovascular specialist, “is go into the bloodstream through a nick in the skin to find the blockage. Then, with small tools that can go into the smallest arteries, we remove the blockage, and restore that blood flow without surgery, without scalpels, without stitches.” Once the plaque is removed, blood flow improves. This can all be done in a few hours in an office setting and is covered by Medicare and most insurances.

Dr. Perry urged, “If something is going on with your feet, talk to a doctor.” There is no benefit in waiting to see if the pain will go away on its own. She says, “Treating a condition in its early stages is always best. It gives us the opportunity to prevent it from getting worse and put you on a path to getting better.” FBN

By Reisha Zang

Reisha Zang is the director of patient education at Comprehensive Integrated Care, 602-909-8891.