Do You Have Neuropathy?

At Goldsmith Podiatry, our Manhattan patients are often surprised when they receive a diagnosis of neuropathy for the discomfort they are experiencing in their feet. That’s because neuropathy can have a number of different symptoms including:

  • Numbness

  • Sharp, shooting pains

  • Tingling or burning sensation

  • Loss of balance

  • Weakness or tiredness in your lower legs and feet

  • The sensation of walking on a pebble or with a bunched-up sock

  • Extremely dry skin and/or cracked heels.

Neuropathy is essentially nerve damage. Nerves have a wide range of roles in the feet from alerting you to sensations to secreting necessary oils for lubrication to aiding in mobility and this accounts for the diverse symptoms of neuropathy.

Neuropathy Causes

It may surprise you to know that there are over 100 known causes of neuropathy in the feet, and yet sometimes the doctor is unable to pinpoint a specific cause. One condition that makes you especially susceptible to neuropathy is diabetes. Diseases, alcoholism, nutritional deficiencies, certain medications, infections, and injuries are all other possible causes of neuropathy.

Besides the uncomfortable symptoms, neuropathy poses additional danger to your feet. Due to decreased ability to perceive sensations, you may cut or injure your foot and not realize it right away. This may increase the risk of serious infections developing. In patients with diabetes, poor circulation makes it difficult for wounds to heal and can lead to amputations.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you are experiencing unusual symptoms or a decrease in the ability to feel sensations in your feet, make an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling 212-877-1002. One of our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, or Dr. Kristina Ruff will examine your feet and may do a simple skin biopsy to analyze the concentration of small nerve fibers in your lower extremities. Treatment for neuropathy will depend on its cause and severity and may include medications, injection therapy, nutritional changes and better management of co-existing conditions like diabetes. In some cases surgery may be required if a swollen or compressed nerve is the source of the neuropathy.

Don’t wait. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, contact us today.

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