Neuropathy — a condition that happens when your nerves are damaged — can affect any of the nerves in your body, including your peripheral nerves (nerves that run outside of your spinal cord and down to your limbs) and your autonomic nerves (nerves that control involuntary bodily processes.)
Depending on which type of nerves are damaged, your neuropathy symptoms can range from burning, numbness, tingling to heat intolerance and heart rate abnormalities.
Many different conditions, including lupus, viral infections, and vasculitis, can contribute to the development of neuropathy, but one of the biggest risk factors for neuropathy is diabetes. In fact, 50% of people with diabetes develop peripheral neuropathy, and 30% develop autonomic neuropathy.
If you have diabetes and are currently dealing with neuropathy, Dr. Dustin Hamoy encourages you to visit us here at Precision Laser Joint and Spine Pain Center in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about the link between diabetes and neuropathy and what you can do about it.
Neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, and the reason is relatively straightforward: Consistently high blood sugar levels can injure the nerves throughout your body, particularly those in the feet and hands.
When your nerves become damaged by blood sugar, their ability to send signals is compromised. The “wires become crossed,” which is why you might experience anything from numbness (no signals being sent) to pain signals (in the absence of a trigger) to tingling.
High blood sugar can also weaken the walls of your capillaries — the small blood vessels that supply your nerves with oxygen and nutrients. When your nerves don’t get enough blood, they might not function properly.
The good news is that you can take action to reduce your risk of neuropathy. Here are a few tips to reduce your risk of neuropathy:
Diabetes can increase the risk of foot problems, which could also lead to nerve damage in your feet. Proper foot care, including regular inspection, wearing comfortable shoes, and keeping your feet clean and moisturized, can help prevent complications.
Even with the best lifestyle practices in place, it’s possible that you may still develop neuropathy. Although managing your underlying diabetes is your first line of action, it’s important to know that there are many treatments available to help you get relief from neuropathy.
Medication, topical creams (especially ones that contain capsaicin), and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are all common neuropathy treatments. Here at Precision Laser Joint and Spine Pain Center, Dr. Hamoy offers another solution: multiwave locked system (MLS) laser therapy.
MLS laser therapy doesn’t just mask symptoms. The photons (light particles) from the laser penetrate deeply, interact with your nerves on a cellular level, and help your nerves to actually heal. It does this by bringing oxygen to your damaged nerves and helping with toxin removal. MLS laser therapy can also speed up the nerve cell reconnection process.
In addition to helping your nerves heal, MLS laser therapy also provides an analgesic effect. In other words, it helps reduce your pain. The light energy triggers the release of your body’s natural painkillers — like endorphins and enkephalins— and helps to block pain signals.
Bottom line — If your nerves have been damaged by diabetic neuropathy, MLS laser can accomplish two important goals: pain relief and improved nerve health.
If you have diabetic neuropathy, MLS laser therapy can give you a new lease on life. After your treatment, it’s important to prioritize blood sugar management to prevent exacerbating neuropathy.
Questions? To learn more about neuropathy treatments or to find out if MLS laser therapy is right for you, give us a call at 659-204-5737. You can also simply click here to book your appointment for our Glen Burnie, Maryland, office.
