Nerve pain
Burning, numbness and nerve pain in the feet and hands.
Peripheral neuropathy is common, under-treated, and frequently written off as something to live with. There are more options than most people are offered.
What neuropathy feels like and why it is missed
Peripheral neuropathy usually starts in the feet and moves upward — burning, tingling, numbness, an odd sensation of walking on gravel, pain that is worse at night. Diabetes is the most common cause, but chemotherapy, spinal nerve compression, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune conditions and alcohol all produce it, and in a meaningful proportion of cases no cause is ever identified.
What matters clinically is that "neuropathy" is not automatically a dead end. Some cases are compressive and treatable at the source. Some respond to nerve blocks or stimulation. Getting a proper work-up before accepting a lifetime prescription is worth doing.
What we see
When to be assessed
- Burning or electric pain in the feet, especially at night
- Numbness that is spreading upward from the toes
- Loss of balance in the dark or on uneven ground
- Neuropathy following chemotherapy
- Symptoms in one leg only — which suggests compression rather than systemic neuropathy
- Pain that gabapentin or similar medication has not controlled
How it works
The work-up
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01
Establish the pattern
Symmetrical and stocking-distribution points to systemic neuropathy. One-sided or dermatomal points to nerve compression in the spine, which is a different and often more treatable problem.
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02
Look for a compressive component
Lumbar stenosis and radiculopathy coexist with neuropathy often enough that both should be considered.
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03
Test the response
Where a specific nerve is implicated, a diagnostic block shows whether treating it would help.
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04
Escalate deliberately
From medication optimisation, to nerve blocks, to stimulation for pain that has not responded to anything else.
Treatment options
Peripheral nerve blocks
Targeted at the specific nerve producing the pain, both to diagnose and to treat.
Learn morePeripheral nerve stimulation
A small implanted lead delivering stimulation to the nerve carrying the pain signal — an option for neuropathic pain resistant to medication.
Learn moreSpinal cord stimulation
Established for painful diabetic neuropathy that has not responded to conventional treatment.
Learn moreEpidural steroid injection
Where spinal nerve compression is contributing to the symptoms.
Learn moreIn their words
Patients treated for this
The office staff is very friendly, helpful and professional. I am always able to get an appointment asap with Dr. Loch. He has helped me tremendously with my chronic back and nerve pain with injections as needed. He listens to you and figures out a treatment plan. When he does the injections, he is very gentle and checks on you during the procedure to make sure you are comfortable. I have always had relief from pain after the injections. I highly recommend Dr. Loch and his office staff to anyone needing his expertise!
Dr. Loch has been the best doctor I have ever seen. He listens and takes the time to understand your issues and he works with you to develop a plan to get pain free. I came to Dr. Loch experiencing sciatic pain, tightness in my thighs and nerve pain running down my legs. With a combination of proposed exercises, low level medication and a cortisone shot I have the least amount of pain in over 2 years. His office is also efficient and the staff is very pleasant. I would recommend him to anyone needing pain relief.
Great experience from start to finish. Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Exceptional customer service. Dr. Loch is awesome at explaining everything and painting the full picture so I can make decisions based on my needs. Highly recommended. 11/10
No reviews mention that treatment yet.
Questions we get asked
Can neuropathy be reversed?
Gabapentin makes me foggy. Is there an alternative?
Does spinal cord stimulation really work for diabetic neuropathy?
Eliminate pain and reclaim your life.
Request an appointment with Dr. Loch, or call the office at (904) 750-3787. Most patients are seen within a week.