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Pain & Spinal Conditions and Diseases
To further help our patients, we present to you the most current and reliable information about pain and spinal conditions and diseases. We also offer Back pain advice and information about therapies that can relieve the pain, exercises that can stabilize the back, and doctors who will treat your specific condition.  We would also like to keep you up to date on the latest information available for the treatment of these conditions and diseases.

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Neuropathies

Neuropathy refers to a variety of diseases that affect the nervous system. The most common type of neuropathy is called peripheral neuropathy, which describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, the vast communications network that transmits information from the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) to every other part of the body.

Symptoms of neuropathy are related to the type of affected nerve and may be seen over a period of days, weeks, or years. Muscle weakness is the most common symptom of motor nerve damage. Other symptoms may include painful cramps and uncontrolled muscle twitching visible under the skin), muscle loss, bone degeneration, and changes in the skin, hair, and nails.

Types of neuropathies

   Peripheral Neuropathy
Aapproximately one third of P.N. is caused by diabetes, the second third is caused by poor nutrition or vitamin/mineral deficiencies, herniated discs or back injuries, medications, drug and alcohol abuse, environmental agents and toxins, cancer, kidney and thyroid disease, inherited diseases, Lyme disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and AIDS. The cause of the remaining third cannot be determined.

   Idiopathic Neuropathy, the cause is unknown.

   Hereditary Neuropathy
Not as common as the previous two, caused by disease of the peripheral nerves that is passed from parent to child, and is a result of the degeneration of the insulation that surrounds the nerves which conducts the electrical impulses that trigger muscle movement. A common form of this type of neuropathy is Charcot-Marie Tooth type 1 disease, which presents symptoms of weakness in the legs and arms.

No medical treatments now exist that can cure inherited peripheral neuropathy. However, there are therapies for many other forms. Any underlying condition is treated first, followed by symptomatic treatment. Peripheral nerves have the ability to regenerate, as long as the nerve cell itself has not been killed. Symptoms often can be controlled, and eliminating the causes of specific forms of neuropathy often can prevent new damage.


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