What Is Neuropathy?

Nerve damage or destruction, also known as neuropathy, can be a hard condition to diagnose. What makes it even harder is that sometimes vascular diseases and neuropathy can present some of the same symptoms. Here at Comprehensive Integrated Care, we can help patients learn whether they’re dealing with neuropathy or a vascular condition like Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), or perhaps both. Our goal is to help relieve symptoms without surgery. We are able to do that using interventional radiology treatments such as angioplasty and stenting.

What If it isn’t Neuropathy?

Sometimes frustrating symptoms like foot pain and numbness are due to peripheral artery disease (PAD), not necessarily neuropathy. Those with PAD have blockages in the arteries in their legs and feet that are affecting blood flow. This can create the same pain and tingling feelings one might experience with neuropathy, which is why PAD is so often misdiagnosed. The good news is that CiC can treat PAD with non-invasive procedures. Even better, these treatments can provide relief within hours.

What Symptoms do Neuropathy and PAD Share?

PAD is a common ailment among senior citizens. Approximately one out of every 20 adults over the age of 50 suffers from PAD. That means millions of people in the United States are constantly dealing with uncomfortable symptoms. While 25 percent of people with PAD will present no symptoms, those who do prove symptomatic may experience any of the following:

• Cramps
• Fatigue
• Leg or foot pain
• Cold hands and feet
• Sensitive or shiny skin
• A blue or purple tint in the hands or feet
• Fingernails or toenails that are growing improperly
• Wounds that fester or don’t heal properly

Some of these symptoms could also signal a neuropathy problem. That’s why it is so important to consult with an expert at CiC to get a proper diagnosis. From there, your doctor can plot a course of action to help provide relief for symptoms as soon as possible.

Interventional Radiology Treatment Options for Neuropathy

Once a patient has been diagnosed with PAD, CiC can begin treatment. Medications may help, but if further action is needed, we do provide other options. The following are all minimally-invasive outpatient procedures. Each of them involves little more than a tiny nick in the skin and the insertion of a small catheter.

Treatment options for PAD include:

• Angioplasty – By inserting a tiny, flexible catheter with a tiny balloon at one end, interventional radiologists can inflate arteries. This creates more room for blood to flow safely and effectively.
• Atherectomy – A different type of tiny catheter features a tiny tool at the end that removes arterial plaque from blood vessels. Removing those blockages allows blood to flow more freely through arteries.
• Stenting – Using a tiny mesh tube, interventional radiologists can ensure that a widened artery stays open. It is an effective treatment that restores blood flow.

None of these procedures take long, and you’ll be sent home the same day as your procedure. Some people feel relief of symptoms in as little as a few hours. Whether you’ve been misdiagnosed with neuropathy and are seeking solutions, or you’ve gotten a recent PAD diagnosis and crave relief, CiC can help.

We treat the following: