Idiopathic Peripheral Neuropathy
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US Neuropathy Centers
Peripheral Neuropathy & Foot & Ankle Surgeons located in Marietta, GA
Idiopathic peripheral neuropathy doesn’t have a discernible cause, but that doesn’t make the symptoms any less painful or disruptive. Stephen Barrett, DPM, Sequioa DuCasse, DPM, MS, and the team at US Neuropathy Centers in Marietta, Georgia, offer personalized treatment plans using state-of-the-art treatments to alleviate pain and other idiopathic neuropathy symptoms. Their goal is to get you back to your regular activities and restore your quality of life. If you’re concerned about idiopathic neuropathy, call US Neuropathy Centers or make an appointment online today.
Idiopathic Peripheral Neuropathy
What is idiopathic peripheral neuropathy?
Idiopathic is the medical term for “unknown cause,” so idiopathic neuropathy is neuropathy without an apparent cause. Idiopathic neuropathy is common.
To put it in perspective, around 30% of neuropathy cases are due to diabetes, which is the leading known cause of neuropathy. However, between 30-40% of the remaining diagnoses are idiopathic.
What are the symptoms of idiopathic peripheral neuropathy?
Your peripheral nervous system controls your sensory perception, motor skills, and autonomic functions like urination and digestion.
As a result, idiopathic peripheral neuropathy can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the type of nerve affected and the location of the nerve damage or compression.
For example, if a sensory nerve is damaged, you might have symptoms, including:
- Numbness or tingling
- Either pain or a loss of ability to feel pain, touch, or temperature
- Lost reflexes
- Paresthesias (vague, hard-to-describe sensations)
Alternatively, if your motor nerves are affected, you might experience:
- Weakness
- Paralysis
- Loss of muscle control
- Lost coordination
- Muscle spasm, twitch, or cramp
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact the team at US Neuropathy Centers for expert assessment and state-of-the-art treatment.
How is idiopathic peripheral neuropathy diagnosed?
The team at US Neuropathy Centers provides comprehensive exams and testing to diagnose neuropathy, locate the nerve damage, and identify its cause when possible. Your doctor collects your medical history and performs physical and neurological exams.
They also use electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, and MRIs to locate the nerve damage or compression causing your symptoms. Throughout all of the testing, your doctor looks for the condition that caused the nerve damage in the first place.
The US Neuropathy Centers doctors have a short-list of potential causes of idiopathic neuropathy. They may ask you about your experience with or look for signs of:
- Chemotherapy
- Injuries or trauma
- HIV
- Tumors
- Spine disorders
- Stroke
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Toxins
- Antibiotics
- Viral infections
- Shingles
- Autoimmune diseases
If your idiopathic peripheral neuropathy diagnosis occurred at another practice, make an appointment at US Neuropathy Centers.
The doctors specialize in neuropathy and have the knowledge, experience, and technology to dig deeper and potentially identify the cause of your neuropathy.
How is idiopathic peripheral neuropathy treated?
The doctors at US Neuropathy Centers offer treatment to relieve your idiopathic neuropathy symptoms, even if they can’t identify or treat the cause. They provide personalized treatment plans that may include:
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Electrical nerve stimulation
- Nutrition supplements
- IV infusion therapies
- MLS laser therapy
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Call US Neuropathy Centers or make an appointment online today for expert assessment and treatment for idiopathic neuropathy.
