Neuropathic pain affects over ten percent of the population. The pain mainly results from complications affecting your central or peripheral nervous system. It can be severe and debilitating, but the degree of pain can vary from one person to another. Fortunately, several innovative treatments can be employed to manage neuropathic pain in Austin to help you get long-term relief and improve the quality of your life. If you experience weakness, itching, tingling, numbness, hypersensitivity, and sharp-shooting pain, it might indicate you have neuropathic pain. However, here is what you can do to be sure.
Get a Diagnosis from Your Doctor
If you experience severe pain, the first action is to contact your doctor or book an appointment to get an expert diagnosis. Your provider will determine the reason for your symptoms to understand if other health complications are involved. Where other diseases are involved, treating them can alleviate your symptoms. If neuropathy is the cause of your symptoms, several treatment options are available, and your provider will evaluate your options based on the severity of your condition and your medical history.
Give a Detailed Lifestyle and Medical History
It is crucial to compose a detailed history of your health and lifestyle to identify the possible cause of your symptoms. Create a complete medical profile, investigate your family history, especially neurological disease, and note your lifestyle choices and potential exposures. Your provider will use the background information you provide to narrow down the possible causes of your symptoms and determine what tests to carry out.
Seek a Neurological Exam
Consult your provider about a neurological exam to check for nerve issues. Your provider will perform the non-invasive, simple, and easily performed exam in their office to ensure that your muscles are properly sensitive to sensations. Also, your provider will evaluate your reflexes by pricking or tapping your knee to see if your leg reacts. Also, your provider will assess your coordination and posture to ensure you have balance.
Take a Blood Test
Your provider will likely recommend a blood test when they suspect other medical conditions could be behind your symptoms. Diabetes, vitamin deficiency, and abnormal immune functions could damage your nerves, causing severe pain. All these conditions are better identified through a blood test and help your provider make a more precise diagnosis.
Go For an Imaging Test
When your doctor suspects that a tumor, herniated disc, or other abnormalities affect your nervous system, they might recommend a CT scan, MRI, or other imaging tests. Such tests give your doctor a clear picture of what is happening in your body, and they can make a proper judgment. The tests are painless but ensure you consult your doctor to understand what you can expect for every test and how you can prepare.
Test How Your Nerves Handle Signals
Your doctor can also recommend performing a quick nerve function test to understand how to evaluate how your nerves take and respond to signals. Your provider can perform several tests depending on their suspicions. You might benefit from electromyography, autonomic, or sensory tests.
You can learn about your neuropathic pain symptoms at Republic Spine & Pain. Contact your provider to plan for your diagnosis, and remember to generate detailed medical and lifestyle history. Your treatment will depend on the nature of your symptoms and the underlying cause.
