Do You Have Neuropathy in St. Louis MO?
There are several different causes of this condition, including The most common:
Diabetes
Traumatic injury
Infection
Metabolic Disorders
Toxins
Types of Neuropathy:
Autonomic neuropathy- affects nerves that control processes such as breathing, heartbeat, perspiration, etc.
Peripheral neuropathy often creates painful sensations described as tingling, burning and prickling. With a condition such as this, a specific duration of pain varies but generally improves in time. There is a better chance of improving the symptoms if proper treatment for an underlying condition is received. It is common to see the condition correlating with several life factors, such as poor nutrition, various diseases, trauma or pressure on the nerves. In some cases, there is an unknown cause. This is referred to as Idiopathic neuropathy.


There are over 100 different types of neuropathy, but peripheral neuropathy can be further categorized into one of the following groups. The group is defined according to how many nerves are involved.
A single nerve involved would be classified as mononeuropathy. When this occurs, conditions like carpel tunnel syndrome and bell’s palsy may manifest.
Two or more individual nerves involved would be classified as multiple mononeuropathy.
Involvement of a board range of peripheral nerves would be classified as polyneuropathy. When is occurs, conditions like diabetes may be associated.
There are several other ways to categorize these conditions, including:
Functional classification: motor, sensory, autonomic or a combination
Type of onset: hours, days, weeks, months, years
Peripheral neuropathy, affecting the extremities like the arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles and feet, is the most common.
Causes of Neuropathy
Alcoholism
Poor nutrition and nutritional deficiencies
Trauma
Pressure on nerves
Repetitive movements for extended periods of time
Various autoimmune diseases
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus
Toxins
Heavy metal poisoning
Various medications
Certain cancer treatments
Hereditary neuropathies (from inherited disorders)
Tumors
Other diseases, including but not limited to:
HIV/AIDS
Lyme disease
Liver disease
Kidney disease
Hypothyroidism

Who can Develop Neuropathy?
Neuropathy can affect all people of all ages in St. Louis. It is more commonly found in men and Caucasians as well as those who have jobs consisting of a lot repetitive movements. There are several risk factors ranging from lifestyle choices, behaviors and conditions. As previously stated, those who have poor nutrition are likely to develop Type II Diabetes which will cause neuropathy. If a person suffers from an autoimmune disease, they have a predisposition for the development of various types of neuropathy. If a person has a compromised immune system (organ transplant recipient, HIV/AIDS patients, or due to medication), they are at an increased risk for developing a type of neuropathy. If a person suffers from alcoholism or has a vitamin deficiency, they are likely to develop a form of neuropathy. Also, if a person has kidney disease, liver disease or a thyroid disorder they are more susceptible to developing neuropathy.
Diagnosis of Neuropathy
Physical exam
Neurological exam
Tendon reflexes
Muscular strength
Muscular tone
Sensory tests
Postural analysis
Coordination analysis
Blood tests (check vitamin B-12)
Urinalysis
Thyroid function tests
Nerve conduction test
In some cases a nerve biopsy may be requested by a physician.
Neuropathy Treatment Options
Botox
Ketamine
Dietary supplements
Chiropractic adjustments
Therapeutic massage
Yoga
Acupuncture
Spinal pumps
Electrodes – used to stimulate the motor cortex
Deep brain stimulation