Neuropathy (nerve damage) and chronic pain are extremely common — yet they are often mismanaged or mistreated. In conventional medicine, they’re frequently “treated” with surgery or harsh medications. Our goal at Texas Nerve and Spine is to educate those dealing with these conditions, find the root cause of their issues, and provide therapeutic options that address the root cause — without medications or surgery.
Here are four important things everyone with neuropathy or chronic pain should know.
US citizens are overmedicated. As a country, we take far too many medications — all recommended and prescribed by our own doctors. This, combined with pharmaceutical advertising, has fueled the addiction epidemic attacking our society today.
75%
of the world’s medications are consumed by the US
5%
of the world’s population lives in the US
#37
the US ranking for healthiest people
The US spends over $3 trillion on medical expenses and has more doctors per patient and more hospitals than most countries — yet we don’t even make the top 10 list for the healthiest people. Meanwhile, the number of those suffering from chronic pain and neuropathy is higher than ever and continues to rise.
The most commonly prescribed medications are Neurontin, Gabapentin, Lyrica, and Tramadol. Neurontin, Gabapentin, and Lyrica are anti-seizure medications designed to slow down the brain so the patient stops feeling pain signals from nerve damage. Tramadol is a highly addictive narcotic that interrupts nerve pain signals between the brain and body.
The Problem Most people don’t like taking these powerful drugs because they feel lethargic, foggy, and “zombie-like.” More importantly, these medications do nothing to heal the disease — in reality, the damage worsens, and the patient can’t even feel it.
Neuropathy is nerve damage or disease that can occur at any age but is more prevalent with age. It can develop quickly or over time, and is usually caused by:
The most common symptoms of neuropathy include:
Numbness · Burning · Cramping · Sharp electric pains · Tingling · Balance issues and falls · Disturbed sleep due to pain
Unmanaged nerve damage can lead to amputations.
Chronic pain is persistent and carries on for an extended period — usually longer than 12 weeks — even while on medications. It can affect any part of the body, and the pain may come and go or remain consistent. It can stem from an old injury, trauma, or surgery, but it can also affect people with other medical conditions due to inflammation or dysfunctional nerves.
Symptoms usually include:
Aching · Burning / stinging · Shooting pain · Pressure · Stiffness · Throbbing sensations
These symptoms can lead to anxiety, depression, mood changes, fatigue, and trouble sleeping at night.
When it comes to treatment, you essentially have four paths:
Do nothing. The damage simply worsens over time.
Get more drugs to mask the problem.
Get referred to a neurologist for testing and medication (or intense surgery).
Seek out a professional that specializes in a functional, root-cause approach to neuropathy and chronic pain.
If nothing is done, the damage just worsens. As it progresses, sufferers start sitting more, becoming sedentary, and stop doing the activities they love. They stay home and begin getting depressed because they want to be doing things but can’t. People with unmanaged neuropathy can develop infections, face amputations, become confined to a wheelchair, and more.
Medications only mask the problem and are highly addictive — which can destroy a person’s life. Even a neurologist or pain management doctor will typically run tests to confirm the diagnosis, then prescribe medications or recommend intense surgery.
You don’t “just have to deal with it.” You don’t have to take harsh medications. And you can avoid surgery.
“Peripheral nerves have the ability to regenerate as long as the underlying nerve cell has NOT been killed.” — The National Institute of Health
This means that if you wait too long — until the nerve is dead — it can’t be helped. The sooner you seek help, the better your chances of recovery.
There are four key steps to feeling better:
Rejuvenate
by increasing blood flow
Stimulate
the nerves
Activate
through therapy
Empower
by decreasing inflammation
Our program has been specifically designed to help those suffering from nerve damage and chronic pain. We individually design comprehensive therapeutic programs using proven advanced technology and condition-specific restorative therapy — providing a true healing environment, not merely temporary relief of symptoms. Unlike other options, our one-of-a-kind rehabilitation system addresses the root cause, offering long-lasting relief and dramatically improving quality of life.
Visit with one of our doctors, receive an examination, and discover the best options for you. If you’re ready to reclaim your health naturally and get back to the things you love, contact our office today.
Discover more articles on nerve, spine, and chronic pain care from the specialists at Texas Nerve and Spine.