Peripheral Neuropathy
Overview
Peripheral neuropathy, which is a result of damage or deterioration of the nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord, includes a vast number of diseases. If several nerves are affected, then a so-called polyneuropathy is present. Individual nerves can also be injured, such as through puncture injuries or nerve tears in serious accidents or be “squeezed” at narrow points of the body, as in, for example, carpal tunnel syndrome. Peripheral neuropathy has many different causes, including autoimmune diseases, infections, tumors, alcoholism, exposure to toxic substances, and may even be a result of certain medications. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, prickling or tingling in your extremities, sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness, and even issues with your digestion or urination.
Diagnosis
Understanding the underlying cause of your symptoms requires a thorough diagnostic work up. This includes detailed neurophysiological tests, such as nerve function tests, and imaging tests. Additionally, your medical team may recommend broad screening for various metabolic diseases like diabetes or diseases that cause vitamin deficiencies, diseases that affect your internal organs, and inflammatory causes such as tick-borne infections or inflammations mediated by the immune system. They may also occasionally recommend genetic testing. In cases where symptoms are severe, your medical team may recommend a nerve biopsy to conclusively identify the cause of your symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment for peripheral neuropathy varies greatly depending on the specific case, its severity, and causes. Every step in the diagnostic procedure helps your GMI team tailor your treatment plan, taking into consideration your individual symptoms and personal preferences. Treatment aims to eliminate the cause of the neuropathy, whenever possible, and to help manage the symptoms, for example by eliminating nerve pain.
Why GMI
At the GMI, a multidisciplinary team of renowned neurologists guides each patient through their entire journey, from their diagnostic work-up to their treatment and post-treatment care.
The GMI team will never offer a simple “one size fits all” approach to any patient. We believe each patient’s case is as individual as they are and strive to find the best solution for each of our patients, taking their specific case and diagnosis, their lifestyle, and choices into account.
We believe each of our patients is more than their diagnosis. That’s why our dedicated paramedics team supports patients with neurological disorders by offering more than just expert medical care. We offer psychological help, integrative medical services (including yoga classes, and acupuncture), physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation services, and have a GMI Patient Advocacy Program.
Adhering to our passion for innovation, and desire to progress the medical field, the GMI Department of Neurology both initiates and participates in several clinical trials in which the most modern and advanced treatment concepts are tested.
