Help for Neuropathy
We offer a full range of services to help diagnose and determine the best treatment for your neuropathy so you can live a full life.
Every neuropathy is different, based on the underlying cause and location. The team at the Ayer Neuroscience Institute Neuropathy Center works with each patient and their family to create and follow tailored plans of care that address their unique condition. Using the latest diagnostic technology, we can help you adjust physically and emotionally to your diagnosis.
Diagnosing Neuropathy
The first step is a physical exam that includes tests for strength, sensation, reflexes and functional movement. You may then be sent for blood work and diagnostic imaging tests - MRI, electrodiagnostic testing, and skin or nerve biopsy – and follow up with a neuropathy specialist who will use the test results to diagnose and determine a cause of your neuropathy.
Treatment for Neuropathy
Effective treatment is, again, determined by the cause of the neuropathy. For many, like diabetic neuropathy, the primary approach is to treat the cause.
At the Ayer Neuroscience Institute Neuropathy Center, we offer such diagnostic tools as:
- Electrodiagnostic testing, which has two parts - nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG). For NCS, a small electrical current stimulates a nerve to fire a signal we can measure through an electrode on the skin. We then analyze the signal for abnormalities. EMG involves a small electrode needle inserted into a muscle to measure characteristics of the muscle at rest and contracted. These measurements are analyzed for abnormalities. Because EDX studies only measure abnormal nerve and muscle function, it is possible for people with neuropathy symptoms to test normally. EDX also cannot measure certain types of neuropathies so if you have one of those, your provider will explain other testing options.
- Skin biopsy
In the near future, we will also offer:
Help for neuropathy pain
People often seek help for pain caused by neuropathy. We offer or can refer you to a variety of pain-relieving options, including:
- Medication such as pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine, venlafaxine, amitriptyline, valproic acid, mexelitine and lacosamide.
- Topical creams like capsaicin, lidocaine and compounded creams.
- Neurostimulation such as the use of a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurostimulator to address pain in the lower extremities
- Alternative and complementary therapies such as massage and acupuncture.