Know About Diabetic Neuropathy, Cervical Radiculopathy, and Lumbar Radiculopathy

Diabetic neuropathy often originates in a person who has been suffering from diabetes for quite a few years. Diabetes affects the nerves and the patient complains of unbearable burning pain over the lower legs and feet. This pain often occurs in a stocking glove pattern. Discoloration and skin changes might also be noticed as the condition deteriorates. Initial treatment of diabetic neuropathy focuses on medications and glucose control. At times, the condition is so advanced that advanced treatment is required with a spinal cord stimulator. This treatment might be effective for long term pain management.

Cervical radiculopathy and lumbar radiculopathy are caused by irritation or compression of nerves as they exit the spinal column. Radiculopathy symptoms comprise numbness, pain, weakness, or tingling in the legs or arms. Most patients suffering from radiculopathy respond satisfactorily to conservative treatments that include medications, chiropractic treatments, or physical therapy. Radiculopathy can often resolve with six weeks to three months.

Radiculopathy risk factors are activities that put repetitive or excessive pressure on the spine. Those involved in contact sports or heavy labour are more susceptible to developing radiculopathy than people with a sedentary lifestyle.

When radiculopathy occurs in the lower back, the condition is known as lumbar radiculopathy and when it occurs in the neck, the condition is termed cervical radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is a condition caused by a compressed nerve in the spine which may cause pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling along the length of the nerve.

Diabetic Neuropathy: Nerve Damage Caused Due To Diabetes

Diabetic neuropathy is a condition in which diabetes is the main cause of nerve damage in your body. The nerve fibers all over your body can be damaged due to high blood sugar but if you suffer from diabetic neuropathy than usually, the nerves in your legs and feet are damaged. Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of this condition can vary from pain and deadness in your extremities to issues with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. While these symptoms may be mild of some patients, for others they can be painful, uncomfortable and even fatal. It is a most common and serious complication of diabetes. 

Nerve damage may also cause other health issues like spondylolisthesis; it is a painful health situation in which one bone in your spine slips ahead of the bone underneath it. It usually occurs in the lower spine and in some cases, this may further results in squeezing your spinal cord or nerve roots. People with this condition may suffer from back pain, numbness or weakness in one or both legs. Patients in exceptional cases may also lose control over their bladder or bowels. Sometimes people with spondylolisthesis may have no symptoms at all or until years later. 

If you are suffering from long term lower back pain or any nerve damage then you should immediately consult a doctor. You should first look for a reputed spine center and if you already looking for one then you can opt for Spine Center of Texas. This is an organization of independent medical professionals and practices that offer complete spine care, including diagnostic services, traditional treatment modalities, spine surgery and chronic pain management. The center is supported by a comprehensive team of doctors who work together to deliver the best care doable for patients with neck and back pain.

Diabetic Neuropathy Leads To Nerve Damage & Spondylolisthesis

The ailment, in which your blood glucose or blood sugar levels are higher than normal, is called diabetes. Our body collects glucose from the food we eat and insulin hormone boosts it to get into our cells to provide them energy. However, having too much glucose in our blood can result into serious health problems. It can be the reason of eyes, kidneys, and nerves damage. The condition of nerve damage is called as neuropathy and can be painful. Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and plays a major role in the development of foot ulcers affecting the patient’s quality of life.

You may also suffer from neuropathic pain if you have spondylolisthesis that is caused due to the slip of one of the vertebrae forward over the one below it. This occurs mainly in the lower back in the spine resulting into a spinal defect.  In some of the cases, it makes your spinal cord or nerve roots get squeezed. Some of the common symptoms of spondylolisthesis may include:

• Back or buttock pain
• Lower back pain
• Numbness or weakness in one or both legs
• Difficulty in walking
• Tingling & burning 

If you have experienced any of these symptoms than you should immediately consult a doctor or visit a spine center for better consultation and treatment. There are a number of spine center but you should look for a reputed center that is well-known for its consultation and treatment options. If you are suffering from back pain for a long time then you can opt for the Spine Center of Texas as it exclusively treats spinal conditions, both simple and complex conditions. It also provides on-site pain management options and treatments for spinal conditions. The center has many experienced and skilled spine doctors and surgeons. 

Cervical Radiculopathy- An Injury to the Cervical Spine

The conditions suffered by a human body in which one or more nerves are harmed and do not function properly is called radiculopathy. Injury or damage at the nerve root level causing pain, weakness, numbness, or difficulty in controlling particular muscles is known as a radiculopathy. It is caused mainly due to the compression or irritation of the nerves as they egress the spine.  An injury to the cervical spine leads to cervical radiculopathy; it is a dysfunction of a cervical nerve root. 

It is the damage or hindrance of the nerve function caused due to the compression of one of the nerve roots near the cervical vertebrae. 

You may also suffer from lower back pain that may eventually lead to Lumbar radiculopathy. It is a painful condition suffered by patients when a nerve in their lumbar spine (lower back) is pinched or irritated. If you damage your discs (natural, spongy cushions between your vertebrae allowing your spine to move) then this can lead to a pinched nerve in your lumbar spine. Injury to your disc leading it to get displaced and thus pinch the nerve in your spine.  

If you are diabetic than you are more prone to nerve damage or compression. The damage or injury to your nerves due to diabetes is known as diabetic neuropathy. Most of the people with diabetes suffer from some kind of nerve damage. It is more commonly found in people who have had the diabetes from a long time. This can further lead to various other problems. However, you can help delay or prevent nerve damage by keeping a check on your blood glucose levels. But, if you have already suffered from nerve damage then it will help you to prevent or delay further damage. You can also opt for other treatments to reduce pain and other symptoms.