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The peripheral nervous system sends signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. When nerve damage affects areas of the body that are outside the brain and spinal cord, it’s known as peripheral neuropathy. Tingling, numbness and pain in your hands may be a sign that you need neuropathy in hands treatment.
Pain or loss of sensation in your hands and fingers should be evaluated by a doctor who specializes in neurological conditions. In New York and New Jersey, there’s no better choice for diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy and other forms of nerve pain than Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin and Dr. Mark Cohen at Neuro Injury Specialists in New York and New Jersey. Therapies like peripheral nerve stimulation and spinal cord stimulation have revolutionized the treatment of neuropathy in hands.
The symptoms of neuropathy in your hands may develop slowly and gradually or may appear suddenly.
The symptoms you experience may range from mild to disabling and include:
Neuropathy can affect just one nerve or multiple nerves. While peripheral neuropathy is more common in people who are older, symptoms of neuropathy can affect people of all ages. In many cases, damage to your nerves starts long before you experience symptoms.
Early diagnosis and treatment for neuropathy in hands gives you the best chance of controlling symptoms and preventing further damage. Symptoms of pain and numbness in the hands shouldn’t be ignored. When neuropathy is ignored, nerve damage can progress and become irreversible.
The most valuable diagnostic tools are nerve conduction velocity testing (NCV and electromyography (EMG) testing. Correctly diagnosing your condition is the necessary first step toward effective treatment.
Treatment for hand neuropathy aims to relieve discomfort and to prevent the progression of nerve damage.
Options in treatment for hand neuropathy include:
If exposure to a known toxin is the cause of your neuropathy, removing the toxin can prevent further nerve damage. Bringing type 2 diabetes under control is an important part of treating diabetic neuropathy. Orthopedic devices such as wrist braces provide support for the affected hand, reduce pain and limit further nerve damage.
Nerve damage in the hands affects millions of people and has many possible causes. Neuropathy sometimes runs in families.
Other possible causes of neuropathy in your hands include:
Some types of neuropathies in hands are caused by a sudden trauma, such as a sports injury or auto accident. If there’s no apparent cause of neuropathy, it’s called idiopathic neuropathy.
Neuropathy in hands can make it difficult or impossible to do ordinary day-to day activities. For diagnosis and treatment of neuropathy in hands or feet, or other conditions such as headaches, radiculopathy or other types of nerve pain, contact Neuro Injury Specialists at the first signs of symptoms. Drs. Cohen and Dvoskin are skilled experts in pain management and work with you to identify the most effective form of treatment for your neuropathy.