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Why You’re Not Hearing How Diabetic Neuropathy Can Be Reversed!

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treatment for diabetic neuropathy

For many suffering from diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the information in this blog may be the most important you need to know when seeking treatment. We will discuss the basics of diabetic neuropathy and the conventional treatment options. However, you’ll learn how it’s reversible and we will contrast how centralized medicine continues with the same old dogma that you cannot reverse it. So, consider the other option I’ll be explaining. I will explain why I consider myself and my colleagues decentralized doctors, so you’ll better understand why centralized medicine keeps this information from you.  You’ll also get access to research to prove my claim.

Approximately 50-70 percent of those suffering from diabetes will develop neuropathy. The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy will be burning, tingling numbness, and sometimes weakness in the feet and may extend above the ankles into the lower legs. The challenge is that as you lose sensation it will put you at greater risk of an amputation, the most concerning complication of diabetes.

With the nerves that control sensation your ability to feel a sore, like a callous, will be diminished. That callous may become deep, breaking down the skin and resulting in an ulcer. Then an infection may start with infection getting into bone and an amputation of a toe or portion of the foot may be necessary. Because of this risk people with diabetes are more at risk of early death from this amputation risk. The autonomic nervous system may also be damaged with diabetes. This may affect the heart, bladder, sweat glands, and sexual function.

Types of diabetic neuropathy

  • Small fiber disease– This is a common type of neuropathy and this term is used to describe nerve damage to the small nerve fibers that lie right beneath the skin. By taking a biopsy of the skin, the number of nerve endings can be counted to see how many are dying. Small fiber disease will cause burning tingling and numbness as the nerve endings die.
  • Large fiber disease – This may also occur but is not frequently talked about. This is nerve damage from compression. The compression is coming from nerve tunnels that become too tight. Carpel tunnel syndrome would be an example of this.
  • Type one and type two diabetes – You’ll commonly hear these terms and it’s important to know what they mean. Type 2 diabetes is most common and affects people later in life. The pancreas still makes insulin but in smaller amounts. Type 1 diabetes refers to diabetes that starts at a young age and the pancreas does not produce insulin.

Conventional treatments for diabetic neuropathy

Treatments are the following

  • Control diabetes – It is thought that controlling your blood sugar levels will be less damaging to the nerves and therefore the progression of neuropathy may be reduced. By controlling risk factors such as too much sugar and carbohydrate intake glucose levels can be better controlled.
  • Medications– medications such as Lyrica and Gabapentin are commonly recommended to control the symptoms as they become more severe. These drugs may have a positive effect on the burning tingling and numbness symptoms. In rare instances, narcotics may also be prescribed.
  • Medications for controlling blood sugar levels – These can vary depending on the type of diabetes you have and by controlling sugar levels less damage to the nerves may take place.
  • Exercise – this may improve blood flow. Also, it may help the body’s metabolism to control high blood sugars and have a positive effect on the health of the nerves. The blood vessels that supply the nerves may be better able to keep the nerves healthy. It will also reduce risk factors such as weight and high blood pressure.

Here’s what you’re being told about your diabetic neuropathy.

It’s not reversible and if you have it it’s from metabolic issues. The high glucose levels are detrimental to the nerves so the primary solution is medication to help with the symptoms. This is the centralized medical recommendation. Most of healthcare has bought into this narrative. It begins in medical schools with training of doctors to prescribe these drugs and also with the millions of dollars spent by big pharma to promote to the public. Understand the centralized concept is that big pharma along with government agencies fund the research that we fund through our taxes and then promote to you and doctors. No wonder that’s all you’re hearing.

The other new option for diabetics with neuropathy

Surgical reversal of your diabetic neuropathy. Yes, surgery can reverse your diabetic neuropathy.

The basics of nerve decompression for diabetic neuropathy.

When your blood sugars are higher than normal, glucose is broken down by another metabolic pathway called the polyol pathway. In this process, a sugar molecule called sorbitol is created. The sorbitol molecule then gets into the peripheral nerves and attracts water to the nerves. As more water is absorbed into the nerve it will swell as much as forty percent. The swelling of the nerve then creates compression on the nerve as it travels through nerve tunnels. This is why carpal tunnel syndrome is much more common in diabetics. This argument has been around for over twenty years. This information is coming from decentralized doctors like me. No drug company has funded my research, it is there to be read by all doctors and the public.

Objective research to prove that diabetic neuropathy is reversible. Me and my team of doctors have published two papers providing objective evidence of diabetic neuropathy. Two attempts were made to present this at the national meeting of the American diabetic association, and we were turned down. I was innocent enough to think we would be accepted with open arms. Obviously, there is another agenda.

The basics of our research. Patients with severe diabetic neuropathy underwent nerve decompression surgery to remove pressure on the nerves in the lower extremity. Intraoperative EMG studies were done before and then immediately after the nerve tunnel had been opened and decompressed. To do the test needle electrodes were placed in the muscle that the nerve supplied to measure how much the nerve caused the muscle to contract before and after the nerve tunnel was opened. Some patients had up to 300 percent change in this number. Again, this is objected data supplied by a machine used to measure nerve function. So, it is indisputable evidence and helps with understanding the relation to finding the right treatment for diabetic neuropathy.  Here are the two studies.

Acute Improvement in Intraoperative EMG Following Common Fibular Nerve Decompression in Patients with Symptomatic Diabetic Sensorimotor Peripheral Neuropathy: 1. EMG Results 

Acute Improvement in Intraoperative EMG During Common Fibular Nerve Decompression in Patients with Symptomatic Diabetic Sensorimotor Peripheral Neuropathy: EMG and Clinical Attribute interrelations 

Since those two studies were done there is even more research to show that patients undergoing these procedures for treatment of their diabetic neuropathy have significantly reduced the potential for an ampuation. A study by Dr. Zhang in china reports emg nerve testing before and after surgery. 1

Dr. Zhang and Dr. Anderson - Nerve Monitoring for the treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy
Dr. Zhang and Dr. Anderson – Nerve Monitoring for the treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy

Amputation costs to the healthcare system can be a minimum of 80,000 dollars. Besides the monetary price, there is the cost of human life as once a limb is amputated life span is significantly reduced.

So if the centralized medical dogma could be shifted fewer drugs would be sold, fewer patients would need to go to wound care centers where many centralized medical products are used. You’re not hearing the option because if you’re a diabetic patient that is conscientious about your diabetic condition you are consulting with your doctors who manage your condition. Yet they are slow to change and have continued with the medical dogma of centralized medicine. As a peripheral nerve surgeon myself and my colleagues have patients coming to us that refuse to accept the status quo. Sadly, for new concepts to get traction and be fully accepted by the masses it takes a lot of capital.

Doctors have to be monetized so that the services we offer have a positive effect on a company or industry that collaborates with us to move the new concept forward. They win, the doctors win and so do the patients. So this relationship does not exist for doctors that do what me and my colleagues do for the treatment for diabetic neuropathy. As of yet there is no such relationship with an industry with big pockets to promote and further research what we do.  Yes, for many the drugs that are used are helpful at reducing the symptoms. However they also allow for the deterioration of the nerves  to continue and the risk of amputations go up!  If you’d like to learn more about someone in your area who is trained as a peripheral nerve surgeon, please go the Association of Extremity Nerve surgeons website.

Call us today at our Fort Collins location (970) 484-4620, Broomfield location (720) 259-5053 or use our online scheduling system to book your appointment.

References

1 Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of multiple lower-extremity nerve decompression in diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Zhang W, Zhong W, Yang M, Shi J, Guowei L, Ma Q. Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of multiple lower-extremity nerve decompression in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Br J Neurosurg. 2013 Dec;27(6):795-9. doi: 10.3109/02688697.2013.798854. Epub 2013 May 29. PMID: 23713665.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23713665/

Suffering from Nerve Pain In Your Legs at Night? Find Out Why!

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Nerve Pain In Your Legs at Night

Unfortunately, most people reading this may experience poor sleep due to nerve pain. Difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep quality, exhaustion; these can all be factors of nerve pain at night. Not to mention the anxiousness of thinking what you’ll do the next night. Many individuals experience the pain all the way from their hips, to their feet. For some, it is an isolated feeling solely in the upper legs, ankles, or feet. But the real question is: why does this happen and what can you do about it to get a more restful night?

Why Is The Nerve Pain In My Legs Worse At Night?

  1. Distractions
    It is thought that for some, the reason could be that during your waking hours, your mind is distracted by all the things you’re doing during the day. At night these distractions go away, so now your attention is focused on the nerve pain in your legs.
  2. Sleep Position
    You may have noticed that certain sleep positions will aggravate your pain. Certain positions may aggravate pain if it is coming from your back. Certain positions may also put more pressure on locations where the nerves are damaged in the legs.
  3. Sheets and Blankets
    The pressure of sheets or blankets on the skin may also cause discomfort so reducing this pressure on the legs may help.
  4. Temperature
    Most people prefer a cool room to sleep in, but it is thought that this may contribute to nerve pain. There may be less blood flow to the nerves in the legs because of the decreased body temperature, and the coolness may make the nerves more excitable.*What Conventional Medicine Will Tell You

What Conventional Medicine Is Telling You

  1. Sciatica
    This is pain that originates from the spinal cord where the nerves that go to your legs originate. Symptoms tend to be more above the knee then below.
  2. Nerve pain from peripheral Neuropathy
    It may be burning, tingling, numbness, or pins and needles sensations that you’ll experience. Neuropathy can be associated with medical conditions such as diabetes.

Here is what 95% of you are not being told! Read further

As a peripheral nerve surgeon, I will often mention to my patients that conventional medicine is 30 years behind regarding the evaluation and treatment of the peripheral nervous system in the lower extremity. Few doctors have thorough training in this speciality, and many people are not properly diagnosed because of this. It is common to hear; “It’s irreversible, so take anti-inflammatory medications or prescription drugs.” Or, you’re told the problem comes from the back, and treatments are focused on the back only leading to physical therapy or chiropractor appointments. These often fail to address the source.

Nerve locations Feet Andderson Podiatry CenterThree Nerve Tunnels In The Legs You Need To Become Familiar With To Understand The Source Of Your Leg Pain

  1. Common Peroneal Nerve Tunnel
    This tunnel is just below the knee on the outside of the leg. This nerve supplies the muscles and provides sensation to the top of the foot.
  2. Superficial Peroneal Nerve
    This nerve is a branch of the common peroneal nerve and its tunnel is on the front of the leg in the lower one third. It also supplies nerves to the top of the foot.
  3. Soleal Sling Tunnel
    This nerve lies in the upper calf just below the knee. It supplies the skin and muscles on the bottom of the foot.

So Why Could The Pain Be From These Tunnels?

  1. Mechanical
    It may be that you are born with tight nerve tunnels, just like some patients are more likely to have carpal tunnel. Patients suffering from Restless legs have a fifty percent chance of someone else in the family also having Restless legs. So tight nerve tunnels could be inherited.
  2. Trauma
    For others, something as simple as an ankle sprain could put traction on these nerves and cause chronic nerve pain.
  3. Metabolic
    If you’re diabetic because your sugars are higher, your nerves will swell causing more pressure on the nerves as they travel through nerve tunnels. So, the nerve damage is more from compression rather than the medical condition.

So, if you’re frustrated with nerve pain in your legs and you’re being told it’s your back, neuropathy, irreversible, or maybe medication is the only fix; now you know there is another solution. The source of the pain may be from one of the three nerve tunnels we have described. So if you want to improve the quality of your sleep, this blog may have opened the door to a new solution. We are here to help.

Watch Julianne explain how she finally found relief from nerve pain.

Five Stages of Peripheral Neuropathy and How to Cure the Nerve Damage

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Have you heard these comments regarding peripheral neuropathy?

“The nerve fibers have disintegrated so they are permanently damaged, it’s irreversible.” “There is no cure.” Listening to this, you walk away from whichever doctor told you this and you say to yourself “Oh well, I guess the nerve damage is permanent and there is nothing I can do to change that.” Typically, if your neuropathy is severe, you may walk away from this healthcare encounter with a prescription of Lyrica, Gabapentin, or a Narcotic. In this blog we talk about your treatment options and the different stages of peripheral neuropathy.

Nerve Cell Damaged vs Normal Comparison

Challenging what conventional medicine is telling you because it is false! It’s not true!

Aside from treatments aimed at reducing carbohydrate and sugar intake in your diet or looking at vitamin deficiencies; current medical treatment involves two options, however, there is a third option that very few of you hear about.

Option 1 -The problem is metabolic.

It may be from diabetes or if one is prediabetic. It could be from an autoimmune disease, alcoholism, thyroid condition, or an unknown cause. Therefore, the nerves are damaged and just don’t work well.

Option 2 – The problem starts in the back.

So the back needs to be addressed. Maybe, you see a chiropractor, get injections in your back, go through surgery on your back, or use nerve stimulators or pain pumps in your back.

Option 3 – The problem is mechanical and it is in the foot and legs.

To understand this option, we must look elsewhere at the upper extremities, hands, and arms. When burning, tingling and numbness occur, doctors are trained to consider nerve tunnels such as the carpel tunnel. They are looking for a mechanical problem. Could there be a tight nerve tunnel that is compressing the nerve, and if so surgery to open the nerve tunnel would be considered. This may occur in both diabetic and non-diabetic neuropathy. Our research provides objective evidence of this. (Ref, Anderson 1, Yamasaki 2) The nerves can be damaged from metabolic processes but there’s another solution to fix the problem. Very few doctors have been trained to evaluate and treat nerve pathways in the lower extremities. So, surgical treatment must be considered in the five stages to save lives and limbs, especially when one has a diabetic condition. It may even have a positive effect on blood vessels. In the diabetic state, it is known that because of high sugar levels, the body produces a sugar by-product called sorbitol. This sugar will reside in the nerve tissue and will attract water to the nerve causing swelling. Now with a larger nerve, the nerve tunnels that the nerve branches pass through become tighter. (Ref D Lee; D Dauphinée, J. Jakobsen 3, J. Jakobsen 4. With this information in mind, it is ideal to consider surgical decompression to relieve pressure on the nerve.

nerve compression inforgraphic andersonpodiatry to understand the stages peripheral neuropathy

So here are the stages of peripheral neuropathy and what to do

First Stage – In this stage of peripheral neuropathy, the symptoms of burning tingling, and numbness may be very inconsistent and sporadic. The intensity of the burning, tingling, and numbness in the feet or the legs comes and goes. At this stage, looking at the possibility of being prediabetic is important, and nutritional modifications may have a significant impact

Second Stage – The symptoms will now be getting more intense and frequent. Patients are more concerned and may be more likely to seek treatments. At this stage, nutrition considerations are still useful and consultation with a peripheral nerve specialist should be considered to address surgical or non-surgical options.

Third Stage – This is when the symptoms will peak. At this stage, the symptoms may be 24/7 and it may become difficult to sleep comfortably, and walking may be more difficult because of the pain. Many patients may consider medication such as Gabapentin or Lyrica or even pain medication or narcotics. At this stage, nutritional options will have less impact and the option for surgical decompression should be considered. When symptoms are the worst, surgery may be more impactful.

Fourth Stage – In this stage, the severity of the pain and burning may decrease, and walking may now be affected by numbness and weakness. With balance and reflexes being affected, concerns about using a cane or walker are common. In diabetics, the risk of an amputation starts to go up. At this stage, nutritional options do not help that much, and surgical options may still be considered. Now the risk of amputation in the diabetic becomes more real.

Fifth Stage – At the final stage, the nerve is very damaged and there is little pain. The feet will be number and weaker. Walking becomes more challenging and in diabetics, the risk of amputation is more common. This is the stage of peripheral neuropathy where amputations are most likely to occur. Surgery may still be entertained, but it may not be as effective as if it had been performed in stage three or four.

In summary, consider the following when dealing with different stages peripheral neuropathy

Get treatment early to know if you have neuropathy in early stages one and two. Addressing it nutritionally may also have more impact. For most types of neuropathies, you should be evaluated for nerve compression by stages two or three. Especially in diabetics, at the stage where you’re contemplating medication, nerve decompression surgery should be considered. Rather than being medicated through the most painful stages of peripheral neuropathy, patients may want to consider the surgical option of treatment to maximize potential reversal of nerve damage. Waiting till stages four or five may limit the potential improvement gained by surgical decompression. By addressing stages two and three the potential to avoid amputation, limb loss, and possible death could be reduced in diabetics. In summary, as more patients are learning about nerve compression in the lower extremity, the health risks can be eliminated especially in those suffering from diabetic neuropathy.

  1. Anderson JC, Nickerson DS, Tracy BL, Paxton RJ, Yamasaki DS. Acute Improvement in Intraoperative EMG Following Common Fibular Nerve Decompression in Patients with Symptomatic Diabetic Sensorimotor Peripheral Neuropathy: 1. EMG Results. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2017 Sep;78(5):419-430. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1593958. Epub 2016 Dec 30. PMID: 28038479. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28038479/
  2. Yamasaki DS, Nickerson DS, Anderson JC. Acute Improvement in Intraoperative EMG During Common Fibular Nerve Decompression in Patients with Symptomatic Diabetic Sensorimotor Peripheral Neuropathy: EMG and Clinical Attribute Interrelations. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2020 Nov;81(6):484-494. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701619. Epub 2020 May 26. PMID: 32455446. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32455446/
  3. Lee, D., & Dauphinée Damien M. (2005, September 1). Morphological and functional changes in the diabetic peripheral nerve using diagnostic ultrasound and neurosensory testing to select candidates for nerve decompression. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.  https://meridian.allenpress.com/japma/article-abstract/95/5/433/156230/Morphological-and-Functional-Changes-in-the
  4. Jakobsen, J. (1978, February 1). Peripheral nerves in early experimental diabetes – diabetologia. SpringerLink.  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01263449

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Stages of Peripheral Neuropathy

  • What is neuropathy and what are its symptoms?
    Neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy, involves damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, burning sensations, and pain typically in the hands and feet.
  • What causes neuropathy?
    Various factors can cause neuropathy including diabetes, chemotherapy, certain infections, and physical injuries. Each type has its own specific causes and risk factors.
  • Are there different types of neuropathy?
    Yes, there are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy, each characterized by the specific nerve types involved and the symptoms presented.
  • How is neuropathy treated?
    While there is no cure for neuropathy, treatments are available that focus on managing symptoms and underlying conditions. These can include medications, physical therapy, and in certain cases, surgical options like nerve decompression surgery.
  • What are the long-term impacts of neuropathy?
    Neuropathy can be a chronic condition with symptoms that vary in severity. Long-term impacts might include persistent pain, increased sensitivity to touch, and potential mobility issues due to muscle weakness or coordination problems.

Does healthcare have it wrong when it comes to chronic nerve pain?

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chronic-nerve-pain-apcOpiate Addiction

Chronic nerve pain is a very common problem and maybe dangerous because of the overuse of narcotics and the potential for opioid addiction. And as you may have heard in the news approximately 80,000 – 90,000 people have died from drug overdoses annually in recent years. Chronic pain is becoming a big health crisis in this country. The purpose of this blog is to help you challenge what you’ve been told about chronic nerve pain and look at a new approach that gives you hope for a permanent solution.

First, what is nerve pain?

Nerve pain is commonly referred to as neuropathic pain. The symptoms of neuropathic pain include burning, tingling, numbness, and sharp stabbing pain. These nerve pain symptoms may make activities difficult because of pain or lack of balance from numbness. Numbness can cause an additional risk as the pain signals that normally go to the brain from the foot may not warn of a sore or injury because of damage to the nerves. For many, sleeping may be difficult as even sheets touching your skin may be painful. The nervous system can be divided into two areas. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system which includes nerves traveling into the arms and legs. When talking about neuropathic pain, we’re referring to pain in the peripheral nervous system. In the lower extremity, this includes the nerves that extend from the spinal cord down into the legs and feet. Nerve pain can be from various causes. Neuropathy is one of the most common. Neuropathy can be caused by diabetes diabetic neuropathy, from unknown causes idiopathic neuropathy , or related to other causes such as alcoholism, toxins, chemotherapy, and autoimmune disease. Chronic nerve pain may also be caused by injuries such as a fracture, a severe sprain, or even surgery. This is commonly referred to as regional pain syndrome. But the symptoms for all of these can be very similar in terms of how they present.

The conventional approach

The medical advice many patients are hearing can be divided into two categories.

Live with your pain or take drugs – For many, the pain treatment includes taking pain medications such as Lyrica or Gabapentin. In severe cases, narcotics may be recommended. These medications may help with the symptoms but do nothing to get at the cause. Many patients are told they have no other choice. So, whether it’s called neuropathy or chronic regional pain the treatments may be similar. Lyrica and Gabapentin have side effects that include weight gain and narcotics have the risk of addiction or overdose. So, the options you’ll hear are to live with it or take the medication.

Treat your back to help the symptoms in your feet and legs – Other patients are told that the neuropathic pain is from the back. Treatments are then offered that may include chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, or injections in the back. For others, it may even include back surgery or placing a nerve stimulator in the back. Again, the healthcare community including neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists are all trained to look at the back. Very few are well trained in the evaluation of the peripheral nervous system in the lower extremity.

So, if it’s not metabolic and treated with medication or it’s not from the back and treatment is focused on the wrong source what’s another option?
The peripheral nervous system!

How do we treat neuropathic pain?

Treating the root cause of a problem, avoiding opioid addiction

The conventional medicine approach I just described could be considered as blowing on the smoke but not putting out the fire of nerve pain. As a peripheral nerve surgeon, I deal with patients that have chronic pain and various types of neuropathies and for many patients, the problem isn’t what we used to think it was. For some chronic pain can be from damage to nerves from trauma or from surgery. The pain from these nerves can be blocked by the removal of the damaged nerve branch in many cases. Surgery on the back, nerve stimulators in the back, and injections in the back can be avoided. This approach offers a better chance for permanent resolution. In the case of neuropathy, whether it’s diabetic or non-diabetic, it could be from tunnels that have become tight.

Research to support that diabetic neuropathy is reversible

We now know that the diabetic nerve will swell because of a sugar molecule that resides in the nerve tissues attracting water to the nerve. Because the nerve is swollen, it will now be subject to more pressure when it passes through nerve tunnel such a s the carpal tunnel in the hand. One study has shown this change of dimension in the similar tunnel in the foot, the tarsal tunnel.  [1] The research that I’ve done includes two studies that give objective evidence with EMG testing of the diabetic nerves before and after the nerve tunnels are opened in surgery that the nerves are now functioning better. Larger impulses from the stimulated nerve go into the muscles that the nerve supplies after surgery compared to before the tunnel was opened. For many, there is at least an 80 chance of reversal of diabetic neuropathy symptoms. [2] [3]
There are other studies to support this concept. [4] [5] [6] Therefore the neuropathy you’ve been suffering from may be from compression in multiple nerve tunnels in the lower extremity much like the carpal tunnel in the hand.
So, if you’ve been told that it’s irreversible because it’s metabolic this may not be true. Yes, diabetes does affect the health of the nerves as do other metabolic problems, but there can also be an issue with nerve compression in tight nerve tunnels that is the cause. Why haven’t you heard this? This information is being drowned out by marketing. As an example, $272 million dollars were spent in 2018 to market one drug alone, Lyrica. [7]

The new way of looking at Chronic nerve pain- A solution to opioid addiction

Because of this new approach, many are looking for a peripheral nerve surgeon as another option. The treatments may include other non-surgical treatments. However, the focus of the treatment is to deal with the area of compression or nerve injury and by doing so, we are much more likely to have a long-lasting and possibly permanent effect on the patient’s chronic pain. This is important to know because the opioid crisis is almost at an epidemic proportion.

This information should challenge what you’ve been told about your chronic nerve pain. Hopefully, you’ll look deeper at this novel approach and judge for yourself. Armed with this information maybe you or someone you know can be saved from the potential risk of medicating your nerve pain. If you’ve been hiding in the bushes waiting for another option, please give us a call.

References

[1] Dauphinee: www.aens.us/images/aens/Lee-Dauphinee-2005.pdf

[2] Anderson: NIM Study Published

[3] Anderson: https://ur.booksc.eu/book/82143501/aa3266

[4] Zhang: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0032-1320029

[5] Zhang: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=surgical+decompression+of+painful+diabetic+neuropathy+zhang+clinical+efficacy&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart

[6] Dellon: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15566708/

[7] Fierce: https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/kantar-tallies-6-5-billion-for-pharma-ad-spending-2018-abbvie-humira-ranks-as-top

Judy’s Story: Finally, Relief from Neuropathy

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Judy Schmidt was at the end of her rope. After more than 20 years of debilitating neuropathy, countless doctors’ appointments, and pain that just wouldn’t let up, she was ready to quit. Finally, she found hope for her neuropathic pain.

Life Before Neuropathy

Judy was a woman with a life. She had run a successful business for more than 30 years, and had no plans to stop. She was a wife and a mother, and had a very active social life. She walked five miles every night, and loved to dance with her husband. Life was good as she experienced no symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

A Devastating Diagnosis

Suddenly, Judy started to feel burning in her feet. “It just kept getting worse and worse. I went to the doctor, and he said I had neuropathy, or tarsal tunnel syndrome,” Judy says.

“The pain was getting so bad that I couldn’t sleep at night, and I had to go on narcotics. I eventually had to end my career five years earlier than I wanted to because the pain was so severe.”

In a Wheelchair

“I ended up in a wheelchair because I just couldn’t walk any more. I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t go to the store. And, I couldn’t feel my feet anymore, yet I was in excruciating pain 24/7,” Judy says.

She tried everything. Acupuncture, chiropractic care, medication. “They recommended that to reduce the pain we put a pain pump in my stomach to release medicine constantly in my system, and I refused,” says Judy.

She was ready to travel across the country for treatment. “I tried to get into several major hospitals, but they said there was nothing they could do for me.”

Ready to Give Up

“I became a recluse,” Judy recalls, “I didn’t go out with friends anymore, because I couldn’t walk and keep up with the social activities.”

After two nervous breakdowns from being in nonstop pain, and a diminished quality of life, Judy was ready to give up on her nervous system and peripheral nerves. “I’m not that kind of person, I always try to stay very positive and think there’s someone out there who has it worse than me. But, the pain wears you down mentally, and I just got to the point I didn’t want to live anymore.”

A Daughter Steps In

Judy’s daughter Tammy saw that her mom was on a downward spiral. “I felt that I was losing my mom and it was time to do something,” Tammy says. As a nurse who had spent 20+ years in the medical field, Tammy was determined to find a solution.

She went online, did her research, found Dr. Anderson, and made an appointment.

Finally, Joy

Both of Judy’s daughters made the trip from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins to take Judy to see Dr. Anderson, and they finally felt like they had a solution. “They believed in him immediately, and they were dancing in the exam room,” Judy says.

Dr. James Anderson, DPM, says “Judy was suffering from severe neuropathy and nerve pain, and was a great candidate for nerve decompression surgery in both legs.”

Nerve decompression surgery takes less than an hour, patients can walk the next day, and most patients experience little to no pain during recovery.

Judy’s Life Today

Just a few weeks after surgery, Judy came back to see Dr. Anderson, and this time, she was crying tears of joy.

“I moved my toes for the first time in twenty years. I felt the pedal of the car, and carpet under my toes, and I can walk!”

Judy is back to living: walking, driving, grocery shopping, and of course, spending time with her daughters. She is building up her strength again after so many years of not being able to stand and walk.

“To me, this is a miracle,” Judy says, “ I feel like I have my life back, and I am so grateful to Dr. Anderson. My husband and I are going to be dancing again by the end of the year.”

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Don’t wait any longer to see if we can help you make your Neuropathy a thing of the past!

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Winning the Jules Tinel Award: My Journey

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The Patient Who Started It All

14 years ago, I made a bold decision to do something conventional medicine wasn’t doing. Little did I know it would change my professional life forever. Back then, I never thought that one day I would work to reverse the symptoms of neuropathy (the burning, tingling, numbness and pain many diabetic and non-diabetics suffer with).

That all changed one day when I met this patient. He was diabetic, and hadn’t felt the bottom of his feet in 20 years. I was training under a John Hopkins plastic surgeon, Dr. Lee Dellon, and he had performed surgery on the patient four days earlier. Now here he was for his follow-up appointment. The surgeon stroked the bottom of the patient’s foot, and this man who came in so stoic began to laugh like a child and then the tears started flowing down his face. That moment started my journey. I knew right then and there that I wanted to prove to the medical world that the symptoms of neuropathy could be reversed, and that patients didn’t have to suffer and live on medication.

How the Research Started

It was a slow process to adopt Dr. Dellon’s ideas into my practice. Soon after my training, I helped form an organization with other colleagues called the Association of Extremity Surgeons. In this process, my passion grew for what I was doing and how it was transforming people’s lives. The drive to do research came to me out of frustration. I was frustrated because I wanted patients and doctors to know neuropathy can be reversible, and I had to prove it.

Gradually, research became a part of the practice. I was warned that research is very hard, and I soon discovered that it was. I had to form a team to support the vision. The process to do this started several years ago and the research continued to grow.

Research On Diabetic Neuropathy

Too many people are suffering from the symptoms of neuropathy, and too many diabetics have amputations and are at risk of dying because of the loss of their limbs. Because of this belief, we completed a study on intraoperative nerve monitoring in diabetics with severe neuropathy. No one had ever recorded and published a paper to prove that nerve function can rapidly be improved when tight nerve tunnels in diabetics are opened (decompressed).

The study objectively proves what I watched the patient I mentioned earlier experience. Our testing shows that the nerve function improves up to 300 percent within minutes during surgery. And this defies the conventional medicine approach. This study was ground breaking, and my hope is that along with other studies that have been and will be published, the thoughts of the medical world and the public will begin to shift.

Winning The Jules Tinel Award

Recently, I attended the annual meeting for the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons. This organization includes: podiatrists, plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons who all share a common goal of reversing nerve pain in the extremities. At the meeting, I was honored to receive the Jules Tinel award for the scientific advancement of knowledge regarding the human peripheral nervous system. Other doctors to have received this award are: Dr. Lee Dellon from John Hopkins who introduced the concept of nerve decompression for neuropathy, Dr. Maria Seminow from the Cleveland Clinic, the first American doctor to do a face transplant, and Dr. Ivan Ducic of Georgetown Medical School, the first doctor to surgically reverse severe headaches.

We all appreciate recognition, but it’s very special when it’s coming from your peers. I’m grateful to have received this award, and grateful for all the support given to me by my colleagues and the team that helps me, and my wife who has always understood and supported me.

And I’m especially grateful to all the patients who have trusted in me and taught me to be grateful for the ability to offer hope where there once was none.

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To learn more about neuropathy, and how we treat it, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.

Peripheral Neuropathy: Don’t Just “Live With It”

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Peripheral neuropathy is a very common issue that affects patient’s legs and feet. Yet for something so common, we have a long way to go to help manage this painful and potentially debilitating problem. For most people, the symptoms start slowly and gradually worsen over time.

This slow onset can delay the onset of diagnosis and treatment for months, or even years. The symptoms are often different from person to person making it difficult for a doctor to easily recognize the problem early. Furthermore, there are multiple potential causes for the chronic nerve damage and multiple potential treatments depending on the cause. Long story short…peripheral neuropathy can be a tough row to hoe. But, there is good news.

Only Two Choices?

Too often in my experience, patients with peripheral neuropathy hear that they have only two choices:

1) Take pain medications to mask the symptoms

2) Live with it until the nerves die off and no longer cause pain

For years, doctors have searched for other options that would relieve or cure the symptoms regardless of the cause or severity of the nerve damage. They have tried many treatments, medications, and therapies that have only lead to disappointment. But, there is good news.

The Good News: ESTIM Treatment

Now, here’s the good part. Recently, one treatment (often referred to as ESTIM therapy) has shown quite a lot of promise in relieving, and even eliminating the pain from peripheral neuropathy. A company called NEUROGENX developed this therapy.

ESTIM combines a commonly used local anesthetic with a new type of electrical signals generated by a computer. Together, they can gradually heal nerve tissue by addressing the primary underlying cause of most nerve damage, lack of blood flow and oxygen to the nerves. Over the last four years, we have been using the NEUROGENX ESTIM treatment at our clinics to help patients suffering with different types of neuropathy. And we have seen dramatic results, especially when compared to other available treatments.

How ESTIM Works

For patients with peripheral neuropathy, limited blood flow and oxygen delivery can cause slow nerve healing. Whatever is causing damage to the nerve also can damage the small blood vessels that feed the nerve.

The ESTIM treatment combines both electrical and chemical treatment to stimulate increased blood flow and increased nerve healing. The injections use a local anesthetic called “marcaine” which opens and dilates the blood vessels feeding the nerves. Once the blood vessels are open, the electrical impulse goes through the nerve to “jump start” it and stimulate healing. The computer generates an electric signal that changes constantly. This means that the nerve does not “get used to” the signal, which would reduce the effectiveness.

So with each ESTIM treatment, the nerve receives both the nutrients it needs and the electrical signals telling it what to do. With this, the nerve is able to repair and heal the damage. With each subsequent treatment, more and more damaged nerve tissue repairs itself.

The Patient Experience

The most important thing to us is that we see patients have a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. When they come back to see us and report 85, 95, and sometimes even 100% improvement, that is the most rewarding part of what we do as doctors. I would like to end this blog with a quote from a patient named Zelda.

“Now after treatment, I can walk again. I’m back to my normal activities, and I don’t have any pain. I’m sleeping through the night, and the jittery feeling in my legs is gone. Just make an appointment because there is no one else out there doing this. Even if it only helps 75%, it’s worth it. To be able to live your daily life again, it makes all the difference in the world.”

If you would like to learn more about ESTIM treatment, please call us and make an appointment. We would be happy to answer your questions or schedule an evaluation to see if this therapy is right for you.

Come see us, we can help. To learn more about how we treat neuropathy, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.

Neuropathy 101: Part 3 (Real Patients, Real Stories)

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Welcome to Part 3 of our blog, Neuropathy 101. We’ve discussed the signs and symptoms in Part 1, and advanced treatment options in Part 2.

And, of course, we saved the best part for last. If you or someone you love is suffering from neuropathy, the most important thing for you to know is that there is hope. You don’t have to suffer and let neuropathy take over your life.

Today, I want to share with you the stories of three patients who came to see us with different symptoms, frustrations and needs. And after treatment, they are all experiencing the improved quality of life they were hoping for. After practicing for more than 35 years, there is still nothing more rewarding to me than hearing patients come in and tell me how their life has changed for the better since treatment. Here are their stories.

Evelyn’s Story

Symptoms:

“When I came to see Dr. Anderson, I had so much numbness in my feet and it was so painful. My feet hurt so bad by the end of the day, I wasn’t able to wear shoes. I was ready to go stark raving mad. I could only wear sandals and I live in Wyoming. And in the winter, I will tell you I definitely did not want to be wearing sandals,” Evelyn says.

Treatment:

Evelyn had nerve decompression surgery on both legs. This is a 1-hour procedure where we go in surgically to open up the nerves that become compressed in the legs, and cause severe neuropathy symptoms.

Life Today:

Today, Evelyn says, “I have new shoes that I got a year ago and I can finally wear them all day. It was so funny because my husband thought I had gone shopping and bought all new shoes. But, I was just finally able to wear all my own shoes again! At night when I got to bed, I can actually feel the covers with my toes, which I haven’t been able to do in years. I have no pain. I can be so much more active now. I’m ready to go dancing! If you are having problems with your feet, come see him and get the help you need!”

John’s Story

Symptoms:

“Most of my symptoms were occurring on the bottom of my feet. I was having a hard time being active because it took me so long to recover. If I walked about a mile, the balls of my feet would be so sore, it would take a full day just for me to start feeling better,” John says.

Treatment:

John had the ESTIM & MLS Laser treatment we discussed in Part 2 of this blog. Because John’s symptoms were not as severe, our non-surgical treatment options were a good fit for him. The ESTIM treatment is an electrical stimulation therapy, and the laser treatment works on the cellular level. Both treatments work in harmony together to help repair and restore the damaged nerves.

Life Today:

Before he was finished with treatment, John was already reporting significant symptom improvement. “I would say I’m 70-80% better already, and that’s being conservative. I can now walk 2 miles a day, and my feet recover in about an hour. I’m very happy with my results,” John says.

Kelly’s Story

Symptoms:

“I was experiencing a lot of numbness in my feet and struggling with loss of balance. By the end of the day, I was just in excruciating pain. I am on my feet all day at work, and I tried every type of shoe and insole out there, and nothing worked. I don’t really like to take pills, so I didn’t want to get on medication for it, but I really was searching for relief,” Kelly says.

Treatment:

Kelly had nerve decompression surgery on both legs, just like our first patient Evelyn did. This is a great option for many people with severe neuropathy and pain because it’s a minimally-invasive procedure and there is very little down time. Most patients can be up and walking around the day after surgery.

Life Today:

“I don’t dread getting up in the morning anymore. Now I can get through work every day. My heel pain has resolved as well, and my balance is so much better. I feel confident in where I’m stepping and I have that “front to back” feeling of motion that I didn’t have before. I would do the surgery again, in a heartbeat,” Kelly says.

Don’t Give Up

Every day I see patients who come in and they are experiencing incredible results like these. They are back to work, to play and to the activities they love. My desire for you who are reading this is that you would be encouraged to not give up.

Come see us, we can help. To learn more about how we treat neuropathy, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.

Neuropathy 101: Part 2 (Treatment Options)

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In Part 1 of this blog series, we talked about the symptoms, locations and causes of neuropathy. Today, we will discuss the treatment options available. First, I would like to address the approach that many patients experience with conventional medicine. Next, we will talk specifically about our approach, and the treatment options we use that have shown to have a high success rate in patients suffering from neuropathy. Let’s jump in.

The Pharmaceutical Approach

In conventional medicine today, it has become very commonplace to treat neuropathy with medication. I call this the pharmaceutical approach. Medications that are typically prescribed can include Lyrica, Neurontin and Gabapentin.

While these can have some positive impact, the side effects are often what patients struggle with. They can start to feel spacey, and also gain weight. Although the average weight gain is between 10-15 pounds, I have seen some patients gain as much as 40-60 pounds taking these medications. In severe cases, sometimes patients resort to taking narcotics for pain relief, and then there is the risk of opiate addiction.

Is it Coming From Your Back?

The second approach I typically see is that patients have heard the primary cause of their symptoms is coming from their back. They come to us and are often confused. They say, “I went to one doctor and they said my nerves are diseased, and then I went to another doctor and they said it’s coming from my back.”

Many times these patients have been told all they can do is live with it or take medication. If they have been told it’s coming from their back, they might look into chiropractic care, physical therapy, injections, or even surgery.

Our Approach

Our approach is different. We look at the lower limb much like you would look at the upper limb. There are nerve tunnels in the lower extremity that can become compressed or damaged. And the good news is that this gives us the opportunity to reverse the symptoms of neuropathy. Depending on the patient’s exam results and symptoms, we have both surgical and non-surgical treatment options available.

Nerve Decompression Surgery

This is a minimally-invasive, 1-hour procedure. We go in surgically to open up nerve tunnels in the patient’s leg that have become compressed. When we release the pressure from the nerve, patients often see up to 90% improvement from their symptoms. Whether they have diabetic neuropathy, non-diabetic neuropathy, or even chemo-induced neuropathy, we typically see a high success rate with this treatment option. This is also most appropriate for patients with very severe neuropathy symptoms.

ESTIM Treatment

This is a non-surgical treatment option. ESTIM is an electrical stimulation treatment. We use this on the nerves, and send various pulse waves into the anatomy of the leg. This can stimulate the nerves to want to repair themselves. Studies have shown increased nerve repair, and demonstrated how small nerve endings come back to life after ESTIM treatment.

MLS Laser Treatment

This is also a non-surgical treatment option, and it works more on the cellular level. The mitochondria is the “energy-creating” part of your cells. The laser works by targeting the mitochondria specifically in the nerve cells to help repair the damaged nerve tissue.We often use ESTIM and MLS Laser treatment in combination because it can be very effective in providing relief to a patient suffering from nerve pain.

My goal in sharing these treatment options with you is ultimately to instill hope. I find that most patients suffering from severe neuropathy struggle to keep hope alive.

We see patients every day who are finding relief from their neuropathy and nerve pain after years of suffering. In Part 3 of this blog, I will share some of these patient success stories with you. Stay tuned! You don’t want to miss it.

To learn more about how we treat neuropathy, click here .

Part three of this blog post can be viewed at ‘Real Patient Real Stores‘.

To make an appointment, click here.

Neuropathy 101: Part 1 (Symptoms, Location, Causes)

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Do you think you or someone you love might have neuropathy? Perhaps you’ve just been diagnosed with it and you are looking for answers.

You’ve come to the right place. Today, we are going to talk about neuropathy symptoms, locations, and causes of neuropathy. In Part 2 of this blog, we will talk specifically about treatment options, and share stories of patients who have found hope and relief from their symptoms. Let’s get started.

What are the symptoms?

Patients with neuropathy will usually experience:

  • Pain
  • Burning
  • Tingling
  • Numbness
  • Weakness

These symptoms don’t all need to be present. One person may have a lot of numbness and slight amounts of burning, while another may have numbness and weakness, but no tingling.

So the combination of these symptoms, and the amounts of different symptoms are widely varied. The symptoms may be periodic in the beginning, and then eventually occur 24 hours a day. They may be barely noticeable during the day, but then haunt you by at night by keeping you awake.

The symptoms may have been very mild for many years with very slow progression. Or, you may be experiencing a rapid progression of symptoms getting worse very quickly.

Where do the symptoms occur?

This is  one of the most important things to consider. Many times, I have seen patients who think they are getting neuropathy because they have numbness in one or two toes. Or, maybe it’s in a small area on the side of the foot.

A small location is not common with neuropathy symptoms. To qualify as true neuropathy, symptoms need to be found in a larger area. For example, the entire bottom or top of the foot. Or, in many cases, the top and bottom of the foot, including all the toes.

Symptoms may not be shared equally in both feet and legs. It can occur more in the lower legs than in the feet. In medical school, we were taught that neuropathy occurs in both feet equally. But, I will tell you from years of experience treating patients, this is not what I have seen day to day. What I have seen consistently, is that the symptoms are typically located in larger areas of the foot and leg, usually below the knee.

What causes neuropathy?

Diabetes may be a potential cause of neuropathy, and many people assume that you have to have diabetes to get neuropathy. This is not true. Although a high percentage of patients with diabetes do get neuropathy, we see many who do not have diabetes. Some patients have neuropathy that may have been caused by alcoholism or chemotherapy, and as a result, the nerves have become damaged. Whatever the cause, the locations and symptoms still apply.

Lastly, don’t be confused by the big words thrown around to diagnose neuropathy. You may have heard “peripheral idiopathic polyneuropathy.” Big words yes, but let’s break it down. “Peripheral” means that your symptoms are in the periphery, which means away from the midportion or trunk of your body. “Idiopathic” means from unknown cause. And finally, “polyneuropathy” means in multiple locations. So very simply, this term means that you have neuropathy symptoms away from your midsection, in multiple locations, and they don’t know what caused it.

Neuropathy can be very frustrating and debilitating. I see patients every day who are looking for answers, and the good news is that we can help!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series to learn about treatment, and hear stories of hope.

To learn more about how we treat neuropathy, click here.

To make an appointment, click here.