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admin, Author at Anderson Podiatry Center - Page 19 of 21 Anderson Podiatry Center

admin, Author at Anderson Podiatry Center - Page 19 of 21 Anderson Podiatry Center

Author: admin

4 Essential Points to Understanding Foot Warts

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Tis the season for witches and warts! But foot warts aren’t selective to green-faced brewers; even the cleanest mortals can fall prey to these nasty little growths.

Foot warts can be the most persistent, painful, and embarrassing nuisances, but sometimes it seems it would take a magic spell to be rid of them! But take heart, for the solution you seek is not in a black kettle, but right here on this page!

  1. What are foot warts?

If you don’t know what exactly a foot wart is, you are not alone. Many people still believe warts come from toads—not so. They are actually a virus. Unlike the viruses that plague us from the inside of our body, warts are very much visible on the surface of our skin. They are small, hard, grainy growths. Oftentimes you can see little black dots on the surface, which are the blood vessels feeding the growth (very vampire-esque).

The unsightly appearance of warts is not their only detestable trait; some warts can be agitating or even painful, especially those located on the bottom of your feet known as plantar warts. These warts can be mistaken for callouses or bunions since they do not rise up off the skin as much as other warts, particularly because they are being pressed down on when you walk—which is what makes them the most uncomfortable type of wart.

  1. How do you get foot warts?

Warts appear when your skin comes in contact with the wart virus and causes an infection. They most often develop in broken skin, such as a cuts or scratches. Cracked dry feet, for example, are susceptible to plantar warts, especially when walking bare-foot in a public area like a locker room shower.

Children develop plantar warts more commonly than adults, most likely due to their weaker immune systems, as well as the fact that they more commonly play with their shoes off and around other children or equipment that may be carrying the virus.foot warts in kids

Warts are not loners. Like all viruses, they like to spread. So to add to their list of unpleasant qualities, warts can multiply–on your skin, your friend’s skin, your kid’s…anywhere they touch they make friends! This is why it’s critical to attack a wart virus as soon as it’s discovered and uproot it before it has a chance to colonize! Fortunately, this is not a fast-growing virus comparatively, so no need to panic when a wart makes its appearance! Just address it as soon as it’s noticed.

  1. How to Avoid Foot Warts:
  • Wash skin regularly -namely exposed skin like hands and feet
  • Keep hands and feet moisturized
  • Wear sandals/flip-flops when using locker rooms or public showers
  • Cover open cuts with bandages
  1. How to get rid of foot warts:

Oftentimes warts disappear on their own, but this usually takes a year or more! Some warts can be taken care of with over-the-counter treatment. But if this fails, you will need to seek medical care from a dermatologist, or in the case of plantar warts, a podiatrist.

No need to blend in with the witches and goblins this month (there’s face paint for that!). Take care of those pesky foot warts once and for all!

5 Most Common FAQ’s from Patients

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If you suffer from any type of foot or ankle ailment chances are someone out there has experienced the exact same or very similar complaint as you have. Feet and ankle issues are extremely common, which makes sense considering the average person walks around 5,900 steps a day, or much more if they live an active lifestyle.

Because we rely on our feet so much, any type of injury can be extremely debilitating and frustrating, especially if you don’t know where to get help, or are afraid to get it. Sometimes what you really need to have peace of mind about receiving treatment are just answers to your questions, which is why Dr. Anderson of Anderson Podiatry Center put together a list of the most common questions he receives from his patients.

Here are the answers to the five most common questions Dr. Anderson gets asked:

  1. Do I have to give up this activity for the rest of my life?

“My response to this has always been we will go through a full conservative regimen and move to surgery as necessary before we tell someone to discontinue in an activity that is beneficial for their health. Commitment to the postoperative course is compensated by a lifetime of being able to return to that activity.”

  1. Will the deformity return if I have it fixed surgically?

The fear that the deformity will just return even if it is surgically removed is a main reason many choose to not even try it. However, this is definitely not always the case, and if you put in the time and effort to find the right doctor, you could get rid of that loathsome deformity for good. Dr. Anderson supports this as well, he says, “This depends on the quality of surgeon you choose, and the commitment you make to appropriate shoe choice and insole choice in the years following surgery.”

  1. Will my insurance cover this?

“Any out-of-pocket costs will be covered by our front office personnel and you need to understand how your deductible and co-pay’s work. You need to take responsibility for understanding the ways in which your insurance works.”

Calling your insurance company can seem very daunting, but with just one phone call you can find out exactly what your insurance will and will not cover. You could be delaying life-changing treatment that your insurance might cover!

  1. When I can return to activity?

“The answer is always very specific to your problem. By returning too quickly you will lose out on the sacrifice from that activity that you have already undergone.”

Because the answer to this common question is so specific to your individual problem, it is absolutely paramount that you see a podiatrist to get an accurate answer.

  1. How much time will I need off from work?

“Sometimes it is in your best interest to use short-term disability rather than burn all your vacation days and sick days. We as a clinic are available to help you fill out the paperwork and answer the questions with regards to short-term disability.”

This question is also very case-by-case, so see a podiatrist to get a better estimate of exactly how much recovery time you need.

Don’t let your fears of the unknown keep you from getting life changing help! See a podiatrist today to finally get all your questions answered.

APC Office Visit

Could Your Hip and Back Pain be Caused by Your Feet?

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hip-knee-pain-apc

Do you suffer with inexplicable pain in your back, hips, or knees? Does a good run leave you with shin splints? Believe it or not, the culprit could be an entirely different body part: your feet. Flat feet are a rather devious condition that can cause a myriad of seemingly unrelated symptoms, distracting you from the real source of the problem.

So what exactly are flat feet? No, we’re not talking about flat, orange duck feet. Flat feet are when your feet are hyperpronated; in other words, your arches appear to be flattened and lower to the ground. What this means for your body is that as you walk, your feet are rolling inward, which creates excess motion and improper support.

With each step, you put a force of almost 5 times your body weight on each foot! So if your foot isn’t properly absorbing that pressure, you better believe the rest of your body is taking the hit. Your legs have to pick up the slack from your feet as well as work harder with the extra rolling movement each step requires.

So your muscles are working harder to lift your foot—hello shin splints. Your Achilles tendon that runs up the back of your leg also takes on a bigger work-load, which may cause tendonitis. And worse yet, if left untreated, flat feet can even lead to arthritis!

Many people don’t even know they have flat feet. They may have the misleading symptoms listed above, or sometimes even no symptoms at all! So how can you know if you’re a victim of it? Try this little experiment: Get your bare foot wet and make a print on your sidewalk. Does the imprint show your entire foot, rather than the normal curved-in footprint? If so, then you probably have flat feet.

Also, you can quiz yourself with the following questions that are indicative of flat feet:

  1. Do your feet get tired easily?
  2. Do you have pain in the arch of your foot or lower leg?
  3. Do your feet or legs feel week after you walk or run?
  4. Do the insides of the soles of your feet swell?
  5. Is it hard for you to stand up on your toes?
  6. Are you experiencing back, hip, or knee pain that can’t be otherwise explained?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may very well be flat footed. Fortunately, this is not an incurable ailment! There are various treatments that can help you.

Custom orthotics might be your ticket, or in more severe cases, corrective orthopedic surgery could be just what you need. Remember that even if your flat footedness doesn’t ail you too much at this point, it will very likely progressively worsen with time.

Our highly trained specialists here at Anderson Podiatry Center can offer you the precise treatment you need. Our goal is to not simply relieve your symptoms, but to address the true cause of your flat foot condition and provide long-term relief. So get your running shoes out! They’ve missed you! Come visit your podiatrist in Fort Collins or Broomfield for further consultation.

Your Feet Can Cause Leg And Back Pain

What We Believe: Anderson Podiatry Center for Foot Nerve Pain Treatment

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chronic nerve pain center anderson podiatry

I’d like to take a few moments to explain our philosophy at our foot nerve pain treatment center. Many of you know generally what a podiatrist does. We work on feet and ankles. But why a center for nerve pain? Why would you come to us for this?

At Anderson Podiatry Center, our approach to patient care focuses on addressing the root cause of your issues, not just alleviating the symptoms. Whether you’re dealing with restless legs, neuropathy, or chronic nerve pain resulting from trauma, we are committed to providing effective and lasting solutions for your nerve-related problems. By identifying and treating the underlying causes, we aim to not only relieve your immediate discomfort but also offer you the opportunity for long-term resolution. Our dedicated team of specialists works tirelessly to reverse the symptoms you’re experiencing and enhance your overall quality of life, ensuring that you can enjoy improved health and mobility. With our patient-centered approach, you can trust us to deliver comprehensive care that prioritizes your well-being and helps you achieve a better, pain-free future.

Patients can be divided into two groups based upon their current belief systems, or what they have been told about their neuropathy. These beliefs are very important to take the time to consider.

  1. The belief or of those who don’t come to our foot nerve pain treatment center are:
  • that the nerve symptoms below your knee probably originate from your back, so we can’t help you.
  • that the drugs you’re taking are helping your nerves and you’re fine with continuing down that pathway, so we can’t help you.
  • that it’s good enough to allow the drugs to mute your symptoms and you aren’t worried what this could progress to, so you won’t need our help.
  • that your nerves are just diseased from the diabetes, restless legs, or chemotherapy, and that’s just the way it is.

If you do have these belief, I’m sorry but we will be of no help. But I urge you to challenge these beliefs or what you may have been told.

nerve pain monitoring anderson podiatry center

Who does come to us? People who believe there’s got to be a better way. People who don’t like to take no for an answer when it comes to improving their nerve health and general wellbeing. We attract people to the center who most fit our beliefs. Some travel a great distance from many states away to hear what we have to say.

  1. The belief of those who do come to our Nerve Pain Center follow the same beliefs as we do; they don’t simply accept their condition, but they question:
  • Why do I have to be on drugs?
  • Why am I being told it’s because of my back?
  • Why am I told I just have to live with it?
  • Why am I told its not reversible?

Many of the people who find us feel more secure to know that we have a research team that tracks our outcomes. To disrupt and revise the standard way you’ve been treated and to back our outcomes with research is who we are, it is our mission and purpose!

Please check our website to learn more about our alternatives to these common beliefs about neuropathy. You may be very glad you did. Some of the topics that we have explained in fine detail are:

So in summary, I have one more question: what do you BELIEVE?

Find the answers you are looking for, by a call, email or chat. With our own foot nerve pain treatment center, we are one of the highest rated foot and ankle clinics in the tri-state area of Colorado, Wyoming and Cheyenne. International patients have also trusted us to find a cure and management path to a better way of live. Two convenient locations in Fort Collins and Broomfield.

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 329-8158, Broomfield location (303) 997-2795, Surgery Center (970) 329-8158, or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

Leg Cramps: A New Potential Cause

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Leg cramps are extremely frustrating. Many of you have been woken up suddenly by the feeling of a giant knot forming in your calf muscle and you try to stretch it before it has a chance to get knotted up. It’s discouraging, exhausting, and often painful, but now there are new ways to treat leg cramps!

Many of you live with these nightly leg cramps. These more serious cramps are even more frustrating in terms of their frequency and ability to affect your sleep.  You may even need to get up and walk around to relieve the symptoms, or perhaps you’ve tried other kinds of remedies: you may have been told you need more calcium, more potassium, and more magnesium. Maybe you’ve heard, “It’s your circulation,” and some of you may resort to drugs such as muscle relaxants, Lyrica, and Neurontin that are used for neuropathy. You may even take tranquilizers to get to sleep!

Four years ago another solution to this problem was found.  At Anderson Podiatry Center (and a select few other centers around the country) we do nerve decompression procedures in the foot and lower leg to release pressure on tight nerve tunnels that are damaging your nerves, thus relieving symptoms. Four years ago a fifth tunnel compression that can also create damage to nerves was found. This tunnel, when compressed, can be the cause the severe leg cramps so many people suffer from.

It’s called the soleal sling tunnel and it resides deep inside your larger calf muscle. A fibrous band that lays close to the tunnel can cause pressure against the main nerve that goes to the bottom of your foot. When that tight band is released surgically, many patients get relief from severe leg cramps.

Cramping may not be the only symptom for these patients.  Many will have numbness, burning, tingling, and weakness associated with damage to the nerve. A 20 minute procedure can have patients walking the next day, and many find symptom relief within days.  Though not for everyone it is an exciting new treatment option now available for many that suffer from this aggravating and even debilitating problem.

Some of you may be at your wits end with the fatigue and stress that you experience when these severe chronic night-time cramps never seem to go away. Don’t forget the drugs you may be taking are not fixing it, although they may help. Please take into account the nerve tunnel procedure for soleal sling next time you’re considering your next step to get rid of the cramps, and get your sleep and life back!     Leg cramps causes and treatment

A Day in the Life of a Podiatrist

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Get to know Doctor Anderson by reading a little about his average day on the job!

Dr. James Anderson, DPM.

“My Wednesday starts early as it’s my surgery day. Surgeries begin at 7 am and may end at 5 pm on a busy day. So, today being Wednesday saw me out the door grabbing a handful of nuts and blueberries for my breakfast. I grabbed some coffee with butter and cinnamon, a daily habit of mine, and started my day.

My first patient had traveled all the way from eastern Nebraska, and as with most of my patients this day was a nerve surgery case. He was a very nice Nebraska farmer with diabetes suffering from severe neuropatDr. James Anderson, DPMhy. I had six surgeries with only a five-minute break between surgeries to celebrate Rhonda’s birthday (Rhonda has been our recovery room nurse for 10 years and she is absolutely the best! Patients and staff love her.)

So, after opening her card and getting a box with her favorite perfume, it was back to work.  Another staff member, Jeanne, was excited to hear that she would be acknowledged in a research paper getting published on the intraoperative nerve monitoring we do. She helps set up the monitoring equipment and assists me in surgery.

The highlight of the day
was the last case. A 14-year-old from Nebraska who had been in a bad car accident 2 years ago. She had severe nerve pain in her foot and weakness, drop foot, in her   leg as it was trapped beneath the seat of the car in a rollover accident. After seeing multiple doctors, they had almost given up hope until they learned about what we do. The nerve monitoring we did in surgery to see how well we improved the function of the nerves that had been damaged in the accident were showing us amazing improvement of nerve function!  I’m very optimistic for her, and feel confident she and her mom can avoid a life of medication for her chronic pain condition, which is the goal they had.

I did end my day a little later than I had thought I would. I was expecting to catch up on things, but only had time to meet with my two research assistants. We recently submitted a paper for publication on restless legs, and reviewed three more studies that we will be starting on. They are young and bright and are a huge asset to me. It’s a real challenge to see patients, run a business, and then do research, so I am blessed to have them.

Lastly, I joined in late on a conference call with our CEO Eric, and my wife, COO Adriann, in regards to new opportunities for our surgery center.

Finally, out of the office by 6:15; that’s early! I even had time at home to watch some TV, answer emails, and jump on the elliptical machine. Oh, yes, and wash some clothes. That’s my day!”

We are proud of what we do and the doctors we represent! Contact us today to talk to any of our doctors one-on-one!

Fact vs. Fiction: Neuropathy

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Neuropathy is a frustrating, debilitating, painful, and, most discouragingly, a confusing disease. If you or someone you know has neuropathy, chances are they have really struggled with finding accurate knowledge on the subject, and with all the information out there it can be overwhelming deciphering what’s true from what isn’t.

Though neuropathy is a fairly common disease, it is not widely known about. One of the first struggles with neuropathy is getting it properly diagnosed. Also, there are so many thoughts and opinions on neuropathy that you may hear conflicting or even false information. As doctors who specialize in neuropathy and treatments for it, we have compiled a helpful list of fact versus fiction to finally help you better understand your neuropathy.

Neuropathy Facts:

  1. There are a wide variety of symptoms, and not everyone experiences them all.
    • The most common symptoms include: muscle weakness, twitching, tingling, loss of balance, numbness, burning, prickling sensations, and/or nerve pain in your legs or feet, and symptoms can vary from one foot to the other.
  1. Neuropathy is progressive.
    • This is one of the most important facts to know! Neuropathy will get worse over time, so if you have symptoms do not delay treatment. Some patients wait until their symptoms are more severe before seeking treatment, which can reduce the chance to reverse or alleviate them.
  1. Neuropathy is a fancy word for nerve damage.
    • Though it may sound simple, this is exactly what neuropathy is. It’s the disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves.
  1. There are treatments that can reverse neuropathy symptoms.
    • Though many don’t realize this, there are treatment options that have had huge success in reversing, or at the very least improving some people’s neuropathy. These treatments include:
      • MLS Laser Therapy– helps to reduce pain and inflammation and improve nerve function.
      • Electrical Nerve Stimulation (ESTIM)– helps to decrease chronic nerve pain, often done in conjunction with nerve blocks.
      • Nutritional counseling– when done in tangent with MLS and/or ESTIM can help reverse symptoms.
      • Nerve decompressing surgery– opens up the tight nerve tunnel to allow the nerve to function properly, is a viable option for the majority of patients, and offers the very real hope of reversing neuropathy’s effects, allowing you to move with little to no pain or instability.

Neuropathy Fiction:

  1. Neuropathy only affects diabetics.
    • Although neuropathy is common in people with diabetes, it is a misconception that it only affects those with it. It can have many other causes including injury, infections, alcoholism, and even certain cancers. There are also unknown (idiopathic) causes
  1. If the pain subsides or goes away, you are getting better.
    • False! This is a very dangerous fallacy. When symptoms seem to be getting better they are often actually getting worse, because the later stages of neuropathy can cause numbness making you not feel the pain that is actually there.
  1. I will always have to be on medication.
    • Though medications are commonly the first step in treating neuropathy, they typically come with unwanted side effects or are ineffective. What people don’t understand is that by seeking other treatments options like the ones listed above, you can reduce or even get off your medication.
  1. Any doctor can help treat neuropathy.
    • Although most doctors know what neuropathy is, they are not all equal in understanding or treating it. Our doctors at Anderson Podiatry Center are members of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons. These national and international physician and PHD members receive specialty training and have a minimum two years’ experience in diagnosing and treating neuropathy. AENS members are committed to disseminating current effective treatment knowledge, and to ongoing research that supports the treatment of extremity nerve disease.

These are just some of the basic misunderstandings on neuropathy. If you suffer from neuropathy come see us today so you can finally get the help you deserve!

QAHAN65Y73

Nerve Monitoring in Surgery: Improvements and Results

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nerve pain

I recently was paid a visit by two scientists from the Medtronics medical device company. They came to our office and surgery center to help expand the way I evaluate and monitor improvement of nerve function during the nerve surgeries I do.  It was a messy process and frustrating at first, but by the end of the day, and at the end of the week the entire team had a much greater regard for how this was providing better service to patients, and how useful the information we were gathering will be to share with patients suffering from neuropathy and restless legs.

So, what’s all the fuss about nerve monitoring anyway?

  1. What is nerve monitoring? 

Intraoperative nerve monitoring is an invaluable technique employed during surgery to gauge the surgery’s impact on the affected nerve in real-time. This sophisticated method involves the placement of small needle electrodes within the target muscle area. These electrodes effectively capture and measure the signals transmitted by the nerve when it is stimulated during the surgical procedure. This allows us to obtain precise baseline readings before the nerve is decompressed or released.

One of the significant advantages of intraoperative nerve monitoring is that it provides the surgeon with immediate feedback regarding the progress of the procedure. By continuously assessing the nerve’s signals during surgery, the surgeon can make real-time adjustments and fine-tune the decompression process. This dynamic approach ensures that the desired outcome, such as relieving nerve compression, is achieved effectively and efficiently. It also enhances the overall safety and success of the surgical intervention.

  1. Why is this important to you, the patient?

Sometimes we are so close to what we do we forget the uniqueness of it, so that’s why I’m writing this blog.  Because we do this with every nerve case we perform, we have amassed more experience and data over the past several years than anywhere in the world. We are also the primary center for improving the concept.  No other surgery center, hospital, etc. does what we do. Because of this we feel we can better optimize the patient’s outcome.

  1. Value based medicine: the new buzz word. But what is it?

As healthcare progresses in our society this term has increased in importance. It refers to employing evidence-based medicine and proven treatments in determining the best outcomes for patients. When it comes to the nerve procedures we do, there is no other place that does the volume of work we do for as long as we’ve done it by recording our results before the patient leaves the operating room.

Strong statement? Maybe a little, but we also understand the importance of value based medicine, and believe it’s important to demonstrate to the consumer the effectiveness of a given treatment or procedure so the patient can make the best decisions about their care.

  1. So, why use nerve monitoring?

Aside from the above, we have a sincere respect for the nerves of the foot and leg-weird as that may seem. Nerve monitoring has long been used during procedures in the back, face, or neck; it’s about time and lower extremity got the same due!

Neuropathy is our passion, and developing procedures, and testing outcomes is important to further the availability of treatments that actually help people who suffer from this debilitating disease.

At Anderson Podiatry Center, neuropathy is more than just a medical condition; it’s our calling and our passion. Our unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those suffering from this debilitating disease drives us to continually advance our knowledge and treatment options. We firmly believe that developing innovative procedures and rigorously testing their outcomes are essential steps toward expanding the availability of effective neuropathy treatments.
One of our groundbreaking contributions to the field of neuropathy treatment is our pioneering work in nerve monitoring within the lower extremities. This cutting-edge technique has enabled us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in neuropathy care. By meticulously monitoring nerve activity during procedures, we can make real-time adjustments and tailor treatments to the specific needs of each patient.
We invite you to connect with us today to explore the remarkable advancements we’ve made in the realm of neuropathy management. Our dedicated team is eager to share our expertise and insights, ensuring that you receive the most innovative and effective solutions for your neuropathy-related challenges. We are genuinely here to make a meaningful difference in your life and provide the relief you deserve. Together, we can combat neuropathy and work toward a brighter, pain-free future.

nerve monitoring in the lower extremity

Ankle Problems: Why It’s Important You Don’t Ignore Them

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With all the wear and tear we put our bodies through it’s no wonder we go to bed sore at night. We often get so accustomed to these persistent aches and pains that we just live with them. It’s normal to have foot pain and ankle pain after a long day of work, right? Sometimes, yes.

Minor aches and pains at the end of the day, especially if you live an active lifestyle, are typically nothing more than a tired body that needs rest, but don’t let these minor aches and pains you are used to feeling make you ignore more serious issues that require treatment.

Some of the most common foot problems that are ignored are in the ankle. People frequently excuse genuine ankle issues to simple daily wear and tear, so they don’t seek treatments that can help. Three common problems that shouldn’t be ignored include:

  1. Ankle Instability– If you sprain your ankle regularly, have stiff or swollen ankles, or have trouble walking across uneven ground, (especially in high heels) then you may actual suffer from ankle instability.
  2. Ankle Pain– If your ankle seems to always be in pain, tender to touch, swollen, or unstable, this could be a signal to a larger problem, such as arthritis, a fracture, or an inflamed tendon.
  3. Ankle Sprain– Spraining an ankle is a very common injury that often heals on its own with proper rest and care, but when it won’t heal is when there is concern. If your ankle sprain is not healing, is swollen, bruised, painful, and difficult to walk on, then you need to get it looked at. Serious ankle sprains when untreated can develop into long-term problems.

Ankle instability, pain, and sprains can put a huge damper on your active lifestyle. If you experience any or all of the above, the below treatment options may be what you need:

  • AmnioFix Therapy– this new, regenerative medical product enhances healing, reduces scar tissue formation, reduces inflammation, and may be just what your ankle needs to heal.
  • Custom orthotics– doctor-fitted orthotics made from the mold of your actual foot offer huge benefits to your feet and ankles.
  • Casting– casting a mold of your foot is typically done when making custom orthotics, and allows a podiatrist to see the exact condition of your ankle, so they can treat it correctly.
  • Physical therapy- some ankle injuries require physical therapy, especially if they go ignored and cause more permanent damage.
  • Braces or supports– these may not sound ideal, but if they ease your pain, prevent further injury, or fix current problems they are worth it.
  • Arthroscopic surgery– this minimally invasive joint surgery can help fix many common ankle injuries.
  • MLS Laser Therapy– this laser therapy is an exciting new treatment for a wide range of injuries and conditions that cause pain, including ankle problems.

If you have chronic ankle problems don’t ignore them! We are here to help you keep active! Call us today!

Don't Ignore Ankle Problems

3 Essential Books for Understanding and Living with Neuropathy

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Your legs and feet are one of the most important parts of our body; they carry you everywhere you go. So, naturally, leg and feet issues can greatly disrupt your daily life. This is sadly the case for the many people who suffer from neuropathy– or nerve pain. Neuropathy is painful, frustrating, and debilitating, and with all the information out there it can be overwhelming finding good, accurate sources of information, but it doesn’t have to be.

First of all, you might have neuropathy and not even know it. Some symptoms to look for with neuropathy include muscle weakness, twitching, tingling, burning, loss of balance, numbness, prickling sensations, and/or nerve pain in your legs or feet. Neuropathy can be caused by diabetes, injury, infections, certain cancers, and alcohol, and it is progressive and will worsen over time.

To help you correctly live with and understand your neuropathy we have found three essential books to read:

  1. Sugar Crush: How to Reduce Inflammation, Reverse Nerve Damage, and Reclaim Good Health– by Richard Jacoby, DPM

Even though this book is not solely on neuropathy, it is still an excellent resource for those who suffer from it. Sugar Crush was written by a leading peripheral nerve surgeon. In it he explains why sugar and carbohydrates are harmful to the body’s nerves, and how eliminating them may help mitigate or even reverse nerve damage.

He goes on to describe how a diet high in sugar, processed carbohydrates, and wheat compresses and damages the peripheral nerves of the body. This leads to pain, numbness, and tinging in hands and feet. Sound familiar? These are the same symptoms as neuropathy, which is why this book is a great resource for you!

  1. Coping with Peripheral Neuropathy: How to handle stress, disability, anxiety, fatigue, depression, pain, and relationships– by Scott Berman, MD CIDP

Unfortunately, living with chronic pain and a debilitating disease affects much more than just your physical body. It affects your emotions, causes other problems such as anxiety and depression, and often affects those around you as well.

However, keep in mind that although this book may help you cope with the chronic pain you currently live with, you might not always have to. Just as Sugar Crush discusses, there are possible treatments that may reverse neuropathy symptoms and help stop chronic pain.

  1. Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief: Guided Practices for Reclaiming Your Body and Your Life– by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Those who suffer from neuropathy often complain of chronic pain as well. If you live a life shaped by pain, you understand the physical and emotional sufferings that usually accompany it. In this book you can learn how to rely on meditation, rather than solely medication, to ease your pain. Often neuropathy patients complain about all the medications they have to take that don’t always work, and almost always come with unwanted side effects. Here is a great alternative.

According to customer reviews, this book offers meditation techniques for beginners, so anyone can use it and find relief, while also discovering new freedom and improved quality of life. However, same with the above book mentioned, remember that there are treatments for neuropathy that have been able to reverse symptoms for many patients, enabling them to live pain free.

These books are very helpful for living with neuropathy, but they are not your only source of information. Speak to a podiatrist to learn all about your disease, and more importantly how you may be able to reverse your symptoms with promising treatment options.

Understanding and Living with Neuropathy