Neuropathy Specialist
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Suffolk Spine & Joint Medical
Mike M. Pappas, D.O.
Physiatrist & Sports Medicine and Pain Management Specialist located in Riverhead, NY & Northport, NY
If you have unexplained pain or tingling in your extremities, you may be suffering from neuropathy. At Suffolk Spine and Joint Medical, Mike M. Pappas, DO, offers comprehensive nerve testing and has performed over 10,000 studies. To learn more, call one of the three locations in Riverhead, Northport, and Ronkonkoma, New York, or use the online scheduling tool to request an appointment.
Neuropathy
What is neuropathy?
In the simplest of terms, neuropathy is damage to your peripheral nerves. Your body contains approximately 46 miles of nerves that branch out from your central nervous system, and they control everything from sensation to muscle control and reach almost every part of your body. This extensive network is designed to link your brain to your body parts and provide vital communication lines.
With neuropathy, your nerves are damaged, which leads to garbled signaling between your brain and the affected part of your body. When your nerves are damaged, it can not only lead to problems with your sensations, but you can lose control of your muscles or your organs.
What are the symptoms of neuropathy?
Since your nerves are both sensory and functional, there are many symptoms of neuropathy, with the following as the most common:
- Burning or shooting pain
- Numbness and tingling
- Increased sensitivity to hot and cold
- Sensitivity to touch
- Balance issues
- Muscle weakness
- Bowel or bladder issues
- Gastrointestinal problems
In some cases, peripheral neuropathy can lead to higher blood pressure numbers that bring on dizziness or lightheadedness.
What causes neuropathy?
The most common causes of neuropathy include:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular issues
- Nerve compression or entrapment
- Infections
- Exposure to toxins
- Trauma
- Certain medications
- Vitamin deficiencies
The best way to find out what’s behind your neuropathy is to get in to see Dr. Pappas for a diagnostic workup. And the sooner the better, since nerve damage can progress and become irreversible if you don’t take the appropriate steps.
How is neuropathy diagnosed?
Dr. Pappas is one of the go-to doctors for diagnosing neuropathy, having conducted over 10,000 nerve studies. When you come in, he sits down with you to review your symptoms and your medical history, and then he performs several tests to identify where your problem might lie.
In the first test, a nerve conduction study, Dr. Pappas places probes along your nerve to measure how your nerves conduct electrical signals. The other test is called an electromyography, which is designed to record the electrical activity in your nerve.
For comprehensive nerve testing for neuropathy, call Suffolk Spine and Joint Medical or request an appointment using the online scheduler.
